1961 Le dВjeuner sur lherbe (Manet) 3 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a group of figures engaged in what appears to be a leisurely outdoor gathering. A central female figure dominates the foreground; her pose is relaxed and suggestive, with one arm draped across her lap while the other reaches towards a male companion seated beside her. This man plays a flute, his gaze directed toward the woman, creating an intimate moment within the larger scene.
To their right, another male figure reclines on what seems to be a blanket or makeshift bed. His face is partially obscured, lending him an air of detachment from the immediate interaction between the other two figures. A fourth individual, positioned further back and slightly to the left, appears to be observing the group; his expression remains ambiguous, contributing to a sense of voyeurism or detached contemplation.
The setting itself is rendered in broad strokes of green and brown, suggesting a wooded area or parkland. The foliage is not depicted realistically but rather as an abstract mass of color, which contributes to the overall flattened perspective. Scattered around the figures are various objects – palettes with paint, canvases, and what appear to be pieces of fruit – hinting at artistic pursuits and a bohemian lifestyle.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of leisure, intimacy, and perhaps even transgression. The womans pose and the mans musical performance evoke a sense of sensual pleasure and relaxed social interaction. However, the unconventional arrangement of figures – their gazes not meeting the viewer directly – and the fragmented rendering of forms create an unsettling effect. This disrupts any straightforward interpretation of a pastoral scene, suggesting instead a commentary on societal norms or a questioning of traditional representations of beauty and morality. The presence of artistic paraphernalia further implies that this is a staged encounter, perhaps a deliberate provocation intended to challenge conventional notions of propriety and representation.