1965 TИte dhomme barbu 1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The drawing presents a portrait study executed in ink and wash. A male figure dominates the composition; his face is rendered with a deliberate distortion that moves beyond mere representation towards expressive abstraction. The artist employed a limited palette of black, grey, and muted green, contributing to an overall somber and introspective mood.
Here we see a dense accumulation of dark washes defining the beard and hair, which frame the facial features. These areas are not meticulously detailed but rather suggested through broad strokes and blurred edges, creating a sense of volume and texture. The face itself is constructed from overlapping planes of grey ink, giving it a layered quality that obscures precise contours. This technique lends an ambiguity to the subject’s expression; it is difficult to discern a clear emotional state.
The eyes are rendered with stark simplicity – dark circles punctuated by small highlights – and possess a peculiar intensity. They appear almost disproportionately large in relation to the rest of the face, drawing immediate attention and contributing to a feeling of unease or vulnerability. A single, sinuous line traces a path across the lower portion of the face, seemingly representing either a distorted mouth or an element of the beard’s structure; its ambiguous nature further complicates interpretation.
The background is minimally treated, with a wash of green providing a subtle contrast to the darker tones of the figure. The artists signature and date (11-10-65) are visible in the lower left corner, anchoring the work within a specific timeframe.
Subtly, the drawing conveys a sense of psychological complexity. The distorted features and ambiguous expression suggest an exploration of identity or perhaps a commentary on the human condition. The deliberate lack of clarity invites contemplation about the subjects inner life, hinting at hidden anxieties or suppressed emotions. It is not merely a likeness but rather a probing investigation into the nature of representation itself, questioning the boundaries between portraiture and abstraction.