1937 Portrait de Marie-ThВrКse 3 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a frontal portrait of a young woman, rendered in a style characterized by distortion and simplification of form. The subject is positioned against a stark black background that intensifies the focus on her face and upper torso. Her gaze is directed downwards, conveying an impression of melancholy or introspection.
Here we see a deliberate departure from naturalistic representation. Facial features are elongated and angular; the nose is sharply defined, the eyes appear large and somewhat disproportionate, and the mouth is rendered as a thin, almost severe line. The skin tone is predominantly yellow-green, with subtle variations in pink and blue that suggest an emotional complexity rather than a straightforward depiction of color.
A crown of small white flowers encircles her head, adding a layer of symbolic meaning. This floral motif could be interpreted as representing innocence, beauty, or even a fragile sense of hope amidst the prevailing mood of sadness. The flowers’ delicate nature contrasts with the starkness of the background and the angularity of the face, creating a visual tension that adds depth to the work.
The artist employed a limited palette, relying on variations within yellow, green, blue, pink, and red hues. Brushstrokes are visible, contributing to the paintings textural quality and suggesting an immediacy in execution. The overall effect is one of psychological intensity; the subject’s expression seems laden with unspoken emotions.
The work evokes a sense of vulnerability and introspection. It moves beyond mere representation to explore themes of beauty, fragility, and perhaps even loss or longing. The deliberate distortion of features suggests a desire to convey an inner state rather than a superficial likeness.