1938 Buste de femme (Dora Maar) 2 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The portrait presents a female figure rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. The artist has deconstructed the subjects features, reassembling them into geometric planes and sharp angles. A prominent hat dominates the upper portion of the composition; its angular form echoes the overall aesthetic of fragmentation. The color palette is bold and dissonant, employing vibrant yellows, blues, greens, pinks, and blacks in a manner that eschews naturalistic representation.
The face itself is a complex arrangement of planes. One eye appears prominently, while another is suggested through a simplified shape. The nose is reduced to a series of angular forms, and the mouth is depicted with a slight curve, hinting at an ambiguous expression – perhaps melancholy or resignation. Hair falls in stylized strands, further contributing to the sense of disarray and reconstruction.
The figure’s shoulders are draped in what appears to be a shawl or garment composed of similarly fractured planes. Two circular forms, rendered in pink, appear on this drapery, adding another layer of visual complexity and potentially symbolizing vulnerability or emotional depth.
The overall effect is one of psychological intensity. The disjointed representation suggests an exploration of identity – a sense that the subject’s inner self has been broken down and reassembled. The jarring color combinations and angular forms contribute to a feeling of unease, hinting at underlying tension or distress. Given the date inscribed on the lower left corner (26.4.38), it is plausible to interpret this work as reflecting the anxieties and uncertainties prevalent in Europe during the lead-up to World War II; the fractured form could symbolize societal disruption and personal fragmentation amidst political turmoil. The portrait transcends a simple likeness, instead offering a symbolic representation of psychological state or historical context.