1947 La dormeuse Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The drawing presents a study of the female form, executed in charcoal on what appears to be paper with a coarse texture. Here we see two figures arranged within a confined space; one seated and upright, the other reclining horizontally. The composition is dominated by stark contrasts between light and shadow, achieved through varying degrees of pressure applied to the charcoal.
The seated figure occupies the foreground. Her posture suggests introspection or perhaps contemplation. She holds her index finger delicately to her lips, an action that could be interpreted as a gesture of silence, secrecy, or restraint. The face is rendered with elongated features and large eyes, conveying a sense of melancholy or quiet observation. Her body is depicted in simplified forms, emphasizing the underlying structure rather than detailed anatomical accuracy.
Behind this figure lies another woman, positioned diagonally across the composition. This reclining form appears more relaxed, though her posture also carries an element of passivity. The artist has used broad strokes to suggest the contours of her body, creating a sense of volume and depth. The background is treated as a dense field of vertical lines, which could represent bars or some other kind of enclosure. These lines contribute to the overall feeling of confinement and restriction within the scene.
The limited tonal range and the rough application of charcoal lend the drawing an immediacy and rawness. The absence of color further emphasizes the focus on form and gesture. Subtly, a sense of vulnerability is conveyed through the depiction of these women; their postures and expressions suggest a quiet resignation or perhaps a hidden narrative that remains unspoken. The composition’s arrangement hints at a relationship between the two figures – perhaps one observing the other – but this connection remains ambiguous, adding to the drawings enigmatic quality.