1907 TИte de Raymonde Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1889-1907

The drawing presents a close-up portrait of a young woman, rendered in a rapid and expressive style using pen or ink on paper. The artist has prioritized capturing a sense of immediacy and psychological depth over precise anatomical representation. Here we see the subjects face filling nearly the entire frame, intensifying the focus on her emotional state.
The lines are energetic and often fragmented, creating a textured surface that suggests both vulnerability and resilience. The hair is depicted with swirling, almost chaotic strokes, obscuring parts of the forehead and contributing to an overall feeling of restlessness or introspection. The eyes, though small, possess a certain intensity; their downward gaze implies pensiveness or perhaps melancholy.
The artist’s use of hatching and cross-hatching defines the planes of the face, creating subtle shifts in light and shadow. This technique also contributes to the drawings overall dynamism. The nose is rendered with a few decisive lines, while the mouth appears slightly downturned, hinting at sadness or quiet contemplation.
The background is left largely unrendered, allowing the viewer’s attention to remain firmly fixed on the subject’s face. The simplicity of the composition and the raw quality of the execution suggest an intimate moment captured with a degree of urgency. One might interpret this as a study for a larger work or a spontaneous expression of feeling rather than a finished portrait intended for public display.
Subtly, there is a sense of fragmentation present not only in the lines but also in the way features are suggested rather than fully defined. This could be read as an exploration of identity, hinting at a complex inner life that resists easy categorization or representation. The drawing’s overall effect is one of quiet intensity and psychological complexity.