1932 Boisgeloup sous la pluie Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a scene seemingly suspended between reality and dreamscape. A building, rendered in simplified forms with rectangular windows and a gabled roof, occupies the foreground. Its pale coloration suggests a sense of stillness or perhaps even fragility. To its right, dense foliage obscures parts of the structure, hinting at an overgrown, untamed quality within the depicted environment.
Above this architectural element, a landscape unfolds under what appears to be heavy rainfall. The rain is not represented realistically but as a series of dynamic, diagonal strokes that dominate the middle ground, creating a visual rhythm and sense of movement. These lines intersect with a vibrant rainbow arching across the upper portion of the canvas. Its colors are bold and somewhat flattened, contributing to the overall feeling of unreality.
A peacock stands prominently near the center, its form stylized and integrated into the landscape. The bird’s presence introduces an element of exoticism and perhaps symbolic richness; peacocks often represent beauty, pride, and even spiritual awakening. A tall, slender tree on the left side of the painting echoes the verticality of the building while also providing a contrasting organic shape to the geometric forms below.
The color palette is predominantly muted – whites, creams, pale greens, and grays – with the rainbow serving as a striking chromatic accent. This contrast reinforces the sense that the scene exists in a liminal space, where ordinary reality is overlaid with something more fantastical or emotionally charged. The artist’s use of simplified shapes and flattened perspective suggests an interest in conveying feeling rather than precise representation.
Subtly, theres a suggestion of melancholy within the work. While the rainbow offers a promise of hope after the storm, the overall atmosphere remains subdued. The stylized figures and buildings seem detached from any narrative context, contributing to a sense of isolation or introspection. It is possible that the painting explores themes of memory, loss, or the subjective experience of place – a landscape filtered through personal emotion rather than objective observation.