1972 autoportrait face Е la mort Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

Here we see a portrait rendered in a style characterized by angularity and distortion, immediately suggesting a departure from conventional representation. The figures face is dominated by large, asymmetrical features – an oversized eye filled with anxiety, a prominent nose, and a heavy brow line that contributes to an overall impression of melancholy or even suffering.
The color palette reinforces this mood. Predominantly cool tones – blues and greens – wash over the visage, lending it a spectral quality. These are punctuated by patches of pink and red, particularly around the head covering, which introduce a sense of tension and perhaps underlying agitation. The application of color appears deliberate, with visible strokes that add texture and emphasize the raw emotionality of the subject.
The artist has employed a technique that prioritizes expression over realism. Lines are not smooth or blended; instead, they are sharp, fragmented, and often overlapping, creating a sense of visual unease. The beard is rendered as a chaotic mass of scribbled lines, further contributing to the feeling of distress.
The figure’s gaze is directed outward, yet it conveys an internal struggle. Its not a look of aggression or defiance, but rather one of profound sadness and perhaps resignation. The composition itself feels compressed; the face fills almost the entire frame, intensifying the viewers focus on its emotional state.
Subtly, there’s a sense of confinement suggested by the cropped view of the figure’s body at the bottom of the image. This reinforces the feeling that the subject is trapped within their own psychological landscape. The work evokes themes of mortality and introspection, hinting at an exploration of human suffering and the fragility of existence.