1940 Buste de figure fВminine Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a bust-length portrait of a woman rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. The artist has deconstructed the traditional representation of human form, presenting multiple perspectives simultaneously within a single plane. The face is divided into distinct planes of color – ochre, green, and blue – which intersect and overlap, creating a sense of disorientation and psychological complexity.
The eyes are prominent features, large and almond-shaped, positioned asymmetrically on the face. One eye appears to gaze directly outward, while the other is partially obscured by the angular planes of the cheekbone. This disparity contributes to an unsettling effect, suggesting a duality or internal conflict within the subject. The nose is elongated and stylized, almost resembling a beak, further emphasizing the distortion of naturalistic proportions.
The hair falls in thick, dark strands that frame the face, adding weight and volume to the upper portion of the composition. A small, triangular marking appears on the bridge of the nose, possibly indicating a piercing or some other form of adornment. The neck is elongated and slender, merging into broad shoulders.
The background is a muted blue-green wash, providing minimal context but contributing to the overall somber mood. Theres an absence of depth; everything exists on a flattened surface.
Subtly, the work conveys a sense of psychological distress or emotional turmoil. The fractured planes and distorted features suggest a breakdown in identity or perception. It is possible that the artist intended to explore themes of trauma, alienation, or the complexities of human emotion through this unconventional portrayal. The asymmetry and disjointedness evoke feelings of unease and challenge conventional notions of beauty and representation. The work seems less concerned with external appearance than with conveying an internal state – a portrait not of a person, but of a feeling.