1937 TИte de minotaure Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The drawing presents a fragmented portrait, dominated by a figure exhibiting characteristics of both human and bovine forms. The artist employed a palette of intense hues – ochre, crimson, purple, and deep blue – to delineate the subjects features and background respectively. A strong contrast is established between the warm tones illuminating the left side of the composition and the cool, somber backdrop on the right.
The face itself is constructed from overlapping planes, a hallmark of fractured perspective. One half displays a pronounced nose, thick lips, and a dense, dark beard rendered with expressive strokes. The other side presents a more flattened profile, marked by an elongated eye and a suggestion of horns emerging from the forehead. This duality creates a sense of unsettling ambiguity; the figure is simultaneously familiar and alienating.
The artist’s use of pastel lends a textural quality to the work, allowing for both delicate shading and bold, assertive lines. The application appears deliberate, with areas of dense layering juxtaposed against more sparsely rendered sections. This contributes to the overall feeling of complexity and visual dynamism.
Beyond the immediate depiction, the drawing seems to explore themes of duality and transformation. The merging of human and animal attributes suggests a questioning of identity and perhaps an exploration of primal instincts or repressed desires. The fragmented nature of the portrait might allude to a fractured psyche or a sense of societal disintegration. The dark background could be interpreted as representing an oppressive force, while the illuminated side hints at a struggle for visibility or self-discovery. Ultimately, the work resists easy interpretation, inviting viewers to engage with its unsettling imagery and contemplate the complexities of human nature.