1909 Femme Е lВventail Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a figure, seemingly female, rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. The subject is positioned centrally within the frame, yet her form appears disassembled into geometric planes and angular shapes. A large, decorative fan occupies a significant portion of the lower register, its surface similarly broken down into facets that mirror the deconstruction of the face above.
The color palette is dominated by muted tones – greens, browns, blacks, and ochres – creating an atmosphere of somberness and restraint. The limited range contributes to a sense of visual compression; forms seem to press against one another rather than exist in distinct spatial relationships. Light sources are ambiguous, casting shadows that further obscure the figure’s volume and depth.
The face itself is characterized by simplified features: large, almond-shaped eyes stare directly forward with an expression difficult to decipher – perhaps a studied neutrality or quiet melancholy. The nose is reduced to a sharp angle, while the mouth is merely suggested as a thin line. This reduction of facial details contributes to a sense of anonymity; the subject’s identity remains elusive.
The artist employed a technique that challenges traditional notions of perspective and representation. Objects and the figure are not depicted from a single viewpoint but rather presented as if seen simultaneously from multiple angles. This fracturing of form disrupts any illusion of three-dimensionality, flattening the picture plane and emphasizing the two-dimensional nature of the artwork.
Subtly, there is an implication of social standing conveyed through the presence of the fan – a symbol often associated with leisure and refinement. However, this association is undermined by the overall austerity of the composition and the subject’s detached demeanor. The painting seems to explore themes of identity, perception, and the complexities of representation, questioning the very nature of how we see and understand the world around us.