1964 TИte dhomme 5 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The composition presents a frontal portrait, rendered in a style characterized by fragmentation and distortion. The subjects features are not presented realistically; instead, they are deconstructed and rearranged, creating a sense of psychological complexity rather than physical likeness.
Here we see the face divided into planes of color – greens, yellows, pinks, and whites – that intersect and overlap, disrupting any conventional understanding of form. The eyes are disproportionately large and positioned asymmetrically, contributing to an unsettling gaze. The nose is rendered as a sharp, angular wedge of red, jutting out from the face with stark prominence. A thick, dark beard obscures much of the lower portion of the face, its dots adding texture and visual weight.
The artist employed a limited palette, yet the intensity of the colors creates a jarring effect. The brushstrokes are visible, suggesting an immediacy and spontaneity in the execution. There is a sense of deliberate roughness; lines are not clean or precise but rather appear hesitant and exploratory.
Subtly, the portrait conveys a feeling of anxiety or internal turmoil. The disjointed features and unsettling color combinations suggest a fractured identity or a struggle with self-perception. The directness of the gaze, despite its asymmetry, implies an attempt at confrontation or perhaps a plea for understanding. The overall effect is one of psychological intensity rather than aesthetic beauty; it’s a portrait that seeks to reveal something about the inner life of the subject, even if that revelation is uncomfortable.

The cropped composition and dark background further isolate the figure, intensifying the sense of introspection and confinement.