1942 Femme au corsage de satin (Portrait de Dora Maar) Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The portrait presents a woman positioned centrally against a stark, predominantly blue-black backdrop. Her gaze is direct and unwavering, meeting the viewers with an intensity that conveys both vulnerability and resilience. The artist has rendered her features in a manner that departs from conventional realism; the nose appears elongated and prominent, while the eyes are large and somewhat disproportionate, contributing to a sense of psychological depth rather than purely aesthetic beauty.
The woman’s attire is noteworthy. She wears a vertically striped garment – a combination of green, red, and black – that draws attention to her form but also introduces an element of visual disruption. The fabric appears heavy, the stripes creating a pattern that seems to both confine and accentuate her presence. A delicate white lace collar softens the severity of the dress, offering a subtle contrast in texture and tone.
The color palette is restrained, dominated by cool blues and blacks which create a somber atmosphere. Patches of green and red within the garment provide focal points, but their intensity is muted by the surrounding darkness. The artist’s brushwork appears deliberate, with visible strokes that contribute to the paintings overall texture and sense of immediacy.
Beyond the surface depiction, the work suggests an exploration of emotional complexity. The woman’s expression is difficult to decipher definitively; it could be interpreted as sadness, defiance, or perhaps a stoic acceptance of circumstance. The stark background isolates her, emphasizing her individuality while simultaneously hinting at feelings of confinement or isolation. The unusual rendering of facial features and the unsettling color scheme contribute to an overall feeling of unease, suggesting that this is not merely a portrait but a psychological study – a visual representation of inner turmoil or resilience in the face of adversity.