1939 Portrait de Dora Maar 3 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The work presents a fragmented female figure set against a backdrop of vertical stripes. The artist employed a limited palette dominated by blacks, grays, and muted greens, punctuated by touches of brown and red within the striped background. The composition is structured around angular forms and sharp lines, characteristic of a style that deconstructs traditional representation.
Here we see the face rendered as a series of planes, disrupting conventional notions of portraiture. Eyes are asymmetrical and appear to gaze in different directions, contributing to an unsettling effect. The mouth is reduced to a narrow slit, conveying a sense of restraint or melancholy. A prominent brow line casts shadows over the eyes, further emphasizing this mood. The hair falls in heavy, dark masses that obscure portions of the face, adding to the overall feeling of confinement and psychological complexity.
Above the head, an elaborate headdress is depicted. It’s constructed from layered shapes – brown and green – that appear both ornamental and somewhat oppressive. The details within this headdress are rendered with a degree of intricacy that contrasts with the simplified treatment of the facial features. This juxtaposition might suggest a tension between outward appearance and inner turmoil, or perhaps an exploration of identity as something performative rather than inherent.
The striped background serves to flatten the space and further isolate the figure. The verticality of the stripes creates a sense of enclosure, reinforcing the impression that the subject is trapped within a defined framework. The colors used in the stripes – red, brown, and green – introduce an element of visual discordance, preventing the composition from settling into any easy harmony.
Subtly, there’s a suggestion of vulnerability conveyed through the figures posture and expression. The fragmented nature of the representation could be interpreted as a reflection of psychological fragmentation or emotional distress. The work seems to explore themes of identity, perception, and the complexities of human emotion through a lens of formal experimentation.