1938 Femme Е la collerette Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a female figure rendered in a fragmented and angular style. The subject is positioned in profile, yet her face displays elements viewed from multiple perspectives simultaneously – a characteristic approach that disrupts conventional representation. A large, straw hat dominates the upper portion of the canvas, its broad brim casting shadows across the figure’s features and contributing to a sense of enclosure or constraint.
The color palette is dominated by cool tones – blues and greens – which create an atmosphere of melancholy or introspection. Accents of yellow and pink introduce visual contrast, but these are subdued rather than celebratory. The skin tone itself is rendered in a complex interplay of pale hues, with areas of red suggesting both vitality and perhaps a hint of distress.
The figure’s attire consists of what appears to be a high-necked garment adorned with a string of pearls. This detail introduces an element of formality or social expectation, which seems at odds with the overall sense of psychological unease conveyed by the fragmented depiction. The lines defining the collar are sharp and geometric, further emphasizing the feeling of confinement.
The background is simplified to broad planes of color, devoid of any discernible spatial depth. Several leafy branches emerge from this backdrop, their forms stylized and somewhat abstract. These elements seem less like naturalistic details and more like symbolic markers – perhaps representing a connection to nature or a yearning for freedom that remains just out of reach.
The overall effect is one of psychological complexity. The fractured form suggests an internal struggle or a sense of being broken apart. There’s a palpable tension between the figures outward appearance of composure (indicated by the pearls and hat) and the underlying emotional turmoil implied by her distorted features and the unsettling color scheme. One might interpret this as a portrait not merely of a person, but of an experience – a moment of anxiety or suppressed emotion rendered through a visual language that prioritizes feeling over literal representation.