Picasso, Pablo – The boy with the dog. Turnover sketch of two figures and a male head in profile Hermitage ~ part 09

The composition presents a young boy standing beside a dog, rendered with a distinctive expressive style. The artist employed a muted palette dominated by earth tones – ochre, brown, and grey – interspersed with patches of blue that define the background and subtly tint the figures. A sense of melancholy pervades the scene, amplified by the subdued color scheme and the downward gaze of both subjects.
The boy is positioned centrally, his posture suggesting a quiet tenderness. He gently rests his hand on the dog’s head, an action conveying affection and perhaps solace. His clothing – a jacket and short trousers – indicates a modest social standing. The loose scarf around his neck adds to the impression of vulnerability and simplicity. The boys face is characterized by large eyes and a somber expression; he appears lost in thought or burdened by some unseen weight.
Beside him stands a dog, depicted with similar expressive brushstrokes. Its posture mirrors the boy’s – a quiet stillness that suggests companionship and shared sadness. The animal’s fur is rendered with loose strokes of brown and black, creating a sense of texture and movement despite its static pose.
The background is indistinct, composed of washes of blue and grey, which serve to isolate the figures and focus attention on their interaction. Theres an impression of a landscape receding into distance, but it remains vague and undefined. This lack of detail contributes to the overall feeling of isolation and introspection.
Subtly, the work explores themes of companionship, vulnerability, and perhaps even loss or hardship. The boy’s gesture towards the dog suggests a search for comfort in a world that may be challenging. The shared stillness and somber expressions of both figures imply an unspoken understanding between them – a bond forged through shared experience. The sketchs unfinished quality adds to its emotional resonance, conveying a sense of immediacy and raw feeling.