1962 Buste de femme II Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1962-1973

The artwork presents a fragmented portrait of a woman, rendered in a style characterized by angularity and bold color contrasts. The face is bisected vertically; one side displays a palette of blues and reds, while the other utilizes yellows and creams. This division isnt merely decorative but appears to signify a duality or internal conflict within the subject.
The artist has eschewed traditional notions of perspective and proportion. Features are distorted and rearranged – the eyes are disproportionately large and positioned asymmetrically, contributing to an unsettling gaze. The nose is reduced to a sharp, geometric form, while the mouth is rendered with a stark, almost aggressive linearity. This deliberate disruption of recognizable features suggests a move away from representational accuracy towards an exploration of psychological states or emotional complexity.
The background is dark and undefined, pushing the figure forward and intensifying its presence. The limited tonal range – primarily consisting of deep greens, blues, yellows, reds, and whites – creates a sense of visual tension. The brushstrokes appear rapid and expressive, conveying a feeling of immediacy and perhaps even agitation.
The woman’s hair is depicted as dark, dense masses that frame the face, further emphasizing its fragmented nature. A patterned garment drapes over her shoulders, introducing a subtle textural element to the composition. The date 10.62 appears in the upper left corner, providing a temporal anchor for the work.
Subtextually, the painting might be interpreted as an exploration of identity – the fractured face suggesting a sense of internal division or a questioning of selfhood. The stark color contrasts could symbolize opposing forces within the individuals psyche. The unsettling gaze and distorted features evoke feelings of unease and psychological intensity, hinting at a deeper emotional landscape beyond surface appearances. It is possible to read this as an attempt to depict not just a likeness but also a state of mind – a portrait of inner turmoil or a fragmented sense of self.