1942 TИte Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The drawing presents a fragmented portrait rendered in vibrant colored pencils. A central figure dominates the composition; its features are abstracted and angular, suggesting a face viewed through a fractured lens. The artist has employed bold strokes of yellow, orange, pink, blue, and green, applied with an energetic hand that prioritizes expressive mark-making over precise representation.
The facial structure is suggested rather than defined. Eyes appear as dark, roughly sketched ovals, conveying a sense of intensity or perhaps distress. A prominent nose is delineated by sharp lines, while the mouth is reduced to a minimal indication, contributing to an overall feeling of emotional restraint or suppression. The hair appears as a chaotic arrangement of colored strokes framing the face.
The background is equally fragmented, composed of intersecting vertical and horizontal lines in varying hues. These lines create a sense of enclosure or confinement, potentially symbolizing psychological barriers or external pressures. The yellow border around the entire composition provides a visual frame that simultaneously isolates and emphasizes the figure within.
Subtly, theres an impression of trauma or suffering embedded within the work. The distorted features and agitated application of color suggest a state of emotional turmoil. The fragmented nature of both the face and the surrounding space implies a breakdown in perception or a sense of being shattered by external forces. The limited palette, while bright, doesn’t offer comfort; instead, it amplifies the feeling of unease.
The inscription at the bottom right corner, 19. Mars. 42, provides a crucial temporal anchor, placing the work within the context of a period marked by significant global conflict and upheaval. This date lends weight to interpretations suggesting themes of persecution, displacement, or psychological distress experienced during wartime. The drawing’s immediacy and raw emotionality suggest it may have been created as a direct response to these events, serving as a visual record of personal experience within a larger historical narrative.