1960 Nu sur la plage et pelle Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a fragmented figure set against a backdrop of muted blues and browns. The central subject appears to be a female form, though rendered in a highly abstracted manner. Her body is constructed from geometric shapes – predominantly rectangular planes – that overlap and intersect, disrupting any sense of naturalistic representation. A large, pale shape dominates the upper portion of the figure, suggesting shoulders or perhaps an elaborate garment. Below this, a darker brown section hints at a torso, punctuated by areas of green which could be interpreted as foliage or decorative elements.
The face is reduced to essential features: two dots for eyes and a single, vertical line denoting the nose. This simplification contributes to a sense of anonymity and universality; the figure becomes less an individual portrait and more a symbolic representation of femininity. The artist employed a limited palette, relying on variations within beige, brown, blue, and green to create depth and contrast.
To the left, a yellow form resembling a beach umbrella or flag rises from the ground plane. Its angularity echoes the fragmentation of the figure, reinforcing the overall sense of deconstruction. A horizontal line near the bottom edge suggests a shoreline or a boundary between land and sea. The artist’s use of flattened perspective and overlapping planes denies traditional depth cues, creating a shallow pictorial space that emphasizes the two-dimensionality of the canvas.
Subtly, theres an unsettling quality to the work. The disjointed nature of the figure, combined with its simplified facial features, evokes a sense of alienation or detachment. It’s possible to read this as a commentary on the objectification of women, reducing them to geometric forms and stripping away individual identity. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as an exploration of how perception itself is fragmented and mediated by cultural constructs. The absence of any clear narrative context further contributes to the paintings enigmatic nature, inviting multiple interpretations and challenging conventional notions of representation.