1938 Figure fВminine au chapeau, assise sur une chaise Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a figure seated on a chair, rendered in a highly stylized and fragmented manner. The background is dominated by a flat, light blue hue, providing a stark contrast to the subjects coloration. A band of pinkish-red stretches across the lower portion of the canvas, acting as a visual base for the scene.
The figure itself appears almost entirely constructed from spiraling patterns and geometric shapes. These motifs are applied in shades of brown, gold, and ochre, creating an intricate surface texture that obscures any conventional representation of form. The head is particularly striking; it’s composed primarily of concentric spirals, suggesting a mask-like quality or perhaps alluding to ancient iconography. A long, vertical element extends from the head, resembling stylized hair or feathers, further emphasizing the figures abstracted nature.
The chair on which the figure sits is also simplified into geometric forms – angular and blocky, lacking any realistic detail. Above the figure, a triangular shape with serrated edges floats in the blue space, adding to the sense of disorientation and dreamlike quality.
Several subtexts emerge from this unusual depiction. The flattening of perspective and the reduction of form suggest an intentional rejection of traditional representational techniques. The use of spirals evokes notions of cyclical time, growth, or perhaps even a primal connection to nature. The mask-like appearance of the face could be interpreted as a commentary on identity, concealment, or the constructed nature of selfhood. The overall effect is one of alienation and psychological complexity; the figure seems isolated within its own patterned world, detached from any recognizable reality. The painting’s aesthetic choices point towards an exploration of interiority rather than external observation.