1945 Faune flЦtiste et danseuse Е la maraca et au tambourin Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The drawing presents a scene populated by two figures engaged in musical performance. On the left, a creature with distinctly animalistic features – a goat-like head and legs – sits upon a blocky structure, playing a flute. The instrument is rendered with a simplified linearity, its form emerging from the dense network of hatching that defines the entire composition. This figure’s posture suggests a degree of formality; he sits upright, his gaze directed towards the other performer.
To the right stands a female figure, her body contorted in a dynamic pose suggestive of dance. She holds what appears to be maracas and a tambourine, though their forms are similarly abstracted and integrated into the overall pattern of lines. The artist depicted her with an exaggerated curvature of the spine and limbs, emphasizing movement and energy. Her face is minimally defined, contributing to a sense of universality rather than individual portraiture.
The background is not rendered as a space but as another layer of texture – a field of closely spaced parallel lines that create a visual hum. This flattening effect eliminates depth perception, pushing the figures forward into the viewer’s space. The monochromatic palette, achieved through varying densities of hatching and cross-hatching, reinforces this sense of flatness and contributes to an overall feeling of austerity.
Subtly, theres a tension between the two performers. While they appear to be engaged in a shared activity, their postures and gazes do not necessarily indicate interaction or harmony. The goat-like figure’s formal stance contrasts with the dancer’s more frenetic energy, suggesting a potential discordance beneath the surface of the performance. This contrast could allude to themes of civilization versus instinct, order versus chaos – recurring motifs in artistic expression following periods of significant upheaval.
The drawings style evokes a sense of immediacy and spontaneity, as if captured quickly from observation. The rough texture and lack of precise detail contribute to an atmosphere of raw emotion and psychological complexity. It’s not merely a depiction of musicians; it is an exploration of human (and inhuman) nature through the lens of performance and sound.