1920 Pulcinella avec une guitare devant un rideau (Massine salutant) Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1919-1930

The composition presents a figure positioned centrally against a backdrop suggestive of theatrical curtains. The individual is depicted holding a guitar, and their posture implies a gesture of greeting or acknowledgement towards an unseen audience. A distinct sense of performance pervades the scene.
The artist employs a fractured, geometric style to represent the subject. Forms are broken down into angular planes, creating a fragmented appearance that challenges conventional notions of realistic representation. The figure’s features are simplified and abstracted; the face is rendered as a series of shapes rather than a detailed portrait. This approach contributes to an overall sense of stylized theatricality.
The color palette is dominated by reds, blues, and whites, with accents of black and grey. The red curtains create a dramatic backdrop, while the blue elements introduce a contrasting coolness. The white portions highlight certain areas of the figure, drawing attention to their gesture and form. The limited range of colors reinforces the sense of artificiality inherent in a stage setting.
The presence of the guitar immediately links the subject to music and performance. The posture suggests an interaction with an audience, implying a moment captured during a theatrical production or rehearsal. The curtains further solidify this association, evoking the atmosphere of a backstage area or a dramatic reveal.
Subtly embedded within the composition is a sense of playful irony. The figure’s abstracted features and fragmented form suggest a deliberate distancing from realism, perhaps commenting on the constructed nature of performance itself. The gesture of greeting could be interpreted as both sincere and slightly mocking, hinting at a self-awareness regarding the conventions of theatrical presentation.
The painting appears to explore themes of identity, representation, and the relationship between artifice and reality within the context of live performance. It is not merely a depiction of an individual; it is a meditation on the act of presenting oneself to an audience.