1939 TИte de femme au chapeau 1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

Here we see a portrait-like composition depicting a woman wearing a hat and what appears to be a decorative collar or bodice. The artist employs a fractured style, breaking down facial features into geometric planes and presenting multiple perspectives simultaneously. This is immediately apparent in the eyes, which are rendered with distinct angles and overlapping forms.
The color palette is restrained but impactful. A muted green background provides contrast for the figures flesh tones, browns of her hair, and the pink/purple hues of her garment. The use of cross-hatching throughout – particularly on the face, collar, and hat – creates a sense of texture and visual complexity. It also contributes to the overall feeling of fragmentation.
The woman’s expression is ambiguous; the exaggerated features and distorted proportions make it difficult to discern a clear emotional state. Her lips are rendered in a bold red, drawing attention to her mouth while simultaneously contributing to an unsettling effect. The hat obscures part of her face, adding a layer of mystery or concealment.
Beyond the immediate depiction, the work seems to explore themes of identity and perception. By deconstructing the human form, the artist challenges conventional notions of beauty and representation. The fragmented nature of the image could be interpreted as reflecting a sense of psychological instability or societal disruption. Theres an underlying tension between the attempt at portraiture and the deliberate distortion that undermines it.
The inscription in the upper left corner suggests a specific date (29.10.37), grounding the work within a particular historical context, potentially hinting at anxieties or observations of the time. The overall effect is one of unsettling beauty – a compelling exploration of form, color, and the complexities of human representation.