1939 TИte de femme au chapeau bleu Е ruban rouge Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a frontal portrait of a woman adorned with a complex headpiece. The background is a saturated yellow, providing a stark contrast to the figure and emphasizing her presence within the frame. The artist employed a palette dominated by cool tones – blues, greens, and purples – interspersed with accents of red and pink.
The subject’s face is rendered in a fragmented style, characteristic of Cubist approaches. Features are displaced and reassembled; the nose appears flattened and elongated, while the eyes are disproportionately large and positioned asymmetrically. One eye is depicted with an unnerving intensity, staring directly outward, while the other seems to gaze inward or off to the side. The mouth is a simple green line, devoid of any overt expression.
The elaborate headwear commands considerable attention. It consists of angular shapes in blue and red, overlaid with a dark, almost black, rectangular element featuring what appear to be intersecting lines – perhaps suggesting a stylized representation of fabric or decoration. This adornment seems less like an accessory and more like an integral part of the subject’s identity, potentially symbolizing status, role, or even confinement.
The womans hair is indicated by broad strokes of yellow-green, falling in angular planes that echo the geometric forms of her hat. A high collar, rendered in a pale green against a dark purple garment, further defines the figure and contributes to the overall sense of formality.
Subtleties within the work suggest a layering of meaning beyond mere portraiture. The disjointed features and unsettling gaze might convey feelings of alienation or psychological complexity. The vibrant color scheme, while visually striking, also introduces an element of unease – a departure from naturalistic representation that hints at underlying emotional turmoil. The overall effect is one of controlled distortion, where the artist seems to be exploring not just the physical appearance of a woman but also her inner state and societal position. The signature in the lower right corner, rendered in a bold script, anchors the work within a specific artistic context while simultaneously asserting the authors presence and control over the depicted scene.