1971 Buste au chapeau 1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The painting presents a fragmented portrait bust set against a muted, yellowish-beige background. The figures face is constructed from sharp angles and planes, characteristic of a Cubist approach. One eye is rendered with stark realism, while the other appears as a simplified oval, contributing to an unsettling asymmetry. The nose is reduced to a geometric form, and the mouth is depicted as a thin, slightly downturned line, suggesting a melancholic or contemplative expression.
The subject wears a broad-brimmed hat, its shape echoing the angularity of the face. A patterned collar encircles the neck, composed of alternating bands of red, white, and gold, adding visual complexity to the composition. The shoulders are indicated by simplified forms, with what appears to be a stylized brooch or ornament affixed near the collarbone.
The artist employed a limited palette dominated by creams, yellows, browns, blacks, and touches of red and green. Brushstrokes appear deliberate yet somewhat loose, contributing to a sense of immediacy and texture. The application of paint is not uniform; areas are thinly glazed while others display thicker impasto, creating subtle variations in light and shadow.
Beyond the formal elements, the painting evokes themes of identity and perception. The fractured representation challenges conventional notions of portraiture, suggesting that reality itself is fragmented or subjective. The contrast between the realistic eye and the stylized features creates a sense of psychological depth, hinting at an internal complexity beyond surface appearance. The hat, often associated with status or disguise, could be interpreted as a symbol of concealment or role-playing. Overall, the work conveys a feeling of quiet introspection and invites contemplation on the nature of representation and selfhood.