1969 Buste dhomme au chapeau * Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The drawing presents a portrait bust of a man wearing a hat. The composition is vertically oriented and dominated by the figures head and shoulders. A prominent hat sits atop the subject’s head, its brim casting shadows across his face. The artist employed a limited palette primarily consisting of black, blue, red, yellow, and touches of white, applied with visible strokes that contribute to a sense of immediacy and raw energy.
The mans features are fragmented and distorted, characteristic of an expressive style prioritizing emotional impact over realistic representation. One eye is rendered as a dark void, while the other appears more conventionally shaped but still imbued with a melancholic quality. The nose is depicted as a series of angular planes, and the mouth is split into asymmetrical sections, suggesting a suppressed or complex emotion. A vertical line bisects the face, further emphasizing its fractured nature.
The background is not entirely absent; rather, it’s suggested through a network of scribbled lines and patches of color that seem to emanate from the figure itself. These markings create a sense of confinement or psychological pressure surrounding the subject. The lower portion of the drawing features decorative elements – floral motifs rendered in red and yellow – that contrast with the somber tones of the face, potentially symbolizing either an attempt at adornment or a jarring juxtaposition of beauty and suffering.
The overall effect is one of intense introspection and perhaps even alienation. The fragmented form suggests a psychological breakdown or a sense of identity being pulled apart. The hat, while seemingly a conventional accessory, might be interpreted as a symbol of disguise or societal role, further distancing the individual from his true self. The drawing conveys a feeling of unease and invites contemplation on themes of identity, perception, and the complexities of human emotion.