The artwork titled “Artist’s Mother” by Pablo Picasso was created in 1896 and serves as an excellent representation of Picasso’s early engagement with the Realist movement. This portrait, rendered in watercolor on paper, measures 19.5 x 12 cm and is housed in the Museu Picasso located in Barcelona, Spain. It reflects the artist’s capacity for realistic depiction and emotional depth during his formative years.
The artwork captures Picasso’s mother in a three-quarter profile, engrossed in her own thoughts. The coloring is somber, with earthy tones dominating the palette, complementing the serious and contemplative mood of the subject. The artist employs a skillful blend of shades to create a sense of volume and structure in the facial features and clothing. The delicate, almost translucent application of watercolor reveals Picasso’s deft hand at the medium, a precursor to the extraordinary versatility he would come to display throughout his prolific career. This personal piece stands out as a touching example of the artist’s more traditional and naturalistic early works before his exploration of Cubism and other avant-garde movements.
