1938 Portrait de Marie-ThВrКse Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a frontal portrait of a young woman, rendered in a style that significantly departs from traditional representational approaches. The figure is framed within a rectangular space defined by a dark border, which isolates her and emphasizes the flatness of the pictorial plane. A vibrant red-orange hue dominates the background, contrasting sharply with the cooler tones used for the subject’s face and hair.
The artist has fragmented the features, presenting them from multiple viewpoints simultaneously. The nose is depicted in profile while the eyes appear to gaze directly forward. This disjunction disrupts any sense of naturalistic perspective, creating a feeling of disorientation and abstraction. The planes of the face are delineated with bold lines and contrasting colors – yellows and ochres for the skin, green for the hair – which flatten the form and emphasize its geometric structure.
The woman’s expression is ambiguous; her gaze seems both distant and introspective. Theres a certain melancholy conveyed through the downturn of her mouth and the subtle shadowing beneath her eyes. The simplification of features reduces her to essential forms, suggesting an exploration of identity beyond superficial appearance.
The color palette contributes significantly to the painting’s emotional impact. The warm tones of the face are juxtaposed with the cool greens of the hair, creating a visual tension that mirrors the psychological complexity suggested by the subjects expression. The background’s intense red-orange could be interpreted as representing passion or intensity, further enriching the portrait’s underlying narrative.
The overall effect is one of controlled distortion and emotional restraint. While the figure is recognizable as a young woman, she exists within an environment that defies conventional spatial logic, hinting at a deeper psychological exploration rather than a straightforward depiction of likeness.