Women and Children; Femmes Et Enfants Jules Pascin (1885-1930)

The drawing presents a group composed of three figures: two women and a child. The composition is dominated by a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity, achieved through a loose, expressive handling of pastel and ink. Here we see the central figure, presumably a woman, positioned slightly forward, her gaze directed outward with an expression that suggests concern or perhaps apprehension. Her body is rendered in broad strokes, emphasizing form over precise detail; the nudity is not presented as overtly sensual but rather as a means to convey vulnerability and exposure.
To her right stands another female figure, partially obscured by the first. This woman’s posture is more protective, her arm extended towards the child nestled against her. The childs face is turned slightly away from the viewer, contributing to an overall feeling of fragility and dependence. The artist depicted the figures in a manner that suggests movement or a fleeting moment captured in time.
The background consists of undulating lines rendered in muted blues and greens, evoking a landscape – perhaps a field or hillside – that recedes into distance. This backdrop provides a sense of space but does not distract from the emotional weight of the foreground group. The limited color palette reinforces the somber mood.
Subtly, the drawing seems to explore themes of maternal protection, vulnerability, and perhaps displacement. The women’s expressions and postures suggest a shared burden or anxiety, while the childs presence underscores the fragility of innocence in an uncertain world. There is a sense of quiet desperation conveyed through the figures arrangement and the artist’s deliberate use of line and color to evoke feeling rather than precise representation. The work conveys a narrative without explicitly stating it, inviting contemplation on themes of family, hardship, and resilience.