1902 Autoportrait avec nu Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1889-1907

The work presents a self-portrait executed in a deliberately rudimentary style. Here we observe two figures intertwined; one appears to be a depiction of the artist himself, reclining and turned away from the viewer, while the other is a female nude positioned above him. The composition is intimate, suggesting a moment of shared vulnerability or connection.
The color palette is restricted primarily to ochre and brown tones, with touches of blue used for shading on the male figure’s face and torso. This limited range contributes to a sense of immediacy and rawness, as if the image were captured spontaneously rather than meticulously planned. The artists signature appears in the upper right corner, rendered in a similarly unrefined manner.
The drawing style is characterized by loose lines and simplified forms. Anatomical details are suggested rather than precisely rendered, creating an impression of sketchiness. This approach moves away from traditional academic depictions of the human form, prioritizing expressive gesture over realistic representation. The female figure’s pose is somewhat awkward, her limbs seemingly disjointed, which further reinforces this sense of a preliminary study or a fleeting observation.
Subtexts within the work revolve around themes of self-representation and artistic exploration. The inclusion of a nude model alongside a self-portrait suggests an investigation into the artists own identity in relation to the female form – a common subject for artists throughout history. However, the lack of idealization and the somewhat uncomfortable positioning of the figures imply a rejection of conventional notions of beauty and eroticism. Instead, there is a sense of psychological probing, as if the artist were attempting to understand his relationship with both himself and the model through this intimate depiction. The overall effect is one of introspection and experimentation, indicative of an artist pushing boundaries and challenging established artistic norms.