1915 homme au chapeau melon assis dans un fauteuil Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a figure seated in what appears to be an armchair, rendered through a fractured and fragmented approach. The subject is immediately recognizable as a man, identifiable by the bowler hat perched atop his head – a detail that suggests a certain social standing or conformity. However, this conventional image is radically disrupted by the artist’s deconstruction of form.
The figure isnt presented in a unified perspective; instead, he is broken down into geometric planes and angular shapes. These facets are arranged seemingly at random, yet they coalesce to suggest the overall posture and attire of a seated gentleman. The color palette is restrained, dominated by muted browns, grays, blacks, and touches of orange and blue. This limited range contributes to a sense of somberness and introspection.
The artist’s choice to dismantle the figures appearance invites contemplation about perception and representation. It questions the reliability of singular viewpoints and challenges traditional notions of portraiture. The disjointed nature of the image could be interpreted as reflecting a psychological state – perhaps alienation, fragmentation, or an internal struggle. The bowler hat, typically a symbol of respectability and order, becomes part of this fractured whole, suggesting that even established social structures are susceptible to disruption.
The background is dark and undefined, further isolating the figure and intensifying his presence within the composition. This absence of context directs the viewers attention solely to the deconstructed form, emphasizing its inherent complexity. The overall effect is one of intellectual engagement rather than emotional outpouring; it’s a visual puzzle that demands active participation from the observer.

The work seems less concerned with depicting a likeness and more interested in exploring the possibilities of representing reality through abstraction and geometric analysis.