The artwork titled “Breasts” was created by Francis Picabia, an influential figure within the Surrealism movement, during the period circa 1924 to 1927. It is an oil on cardboard piece that measures 99 by 75.5 centimeters and is currently held in a private collection. The genre of the work is figurative, delineating forms that may represent the human figure in a stylized or abstracted manner typical of Picabia’s approach.
In “Breasts,” the central figure dominates the composition with a frontal stance, presenting a plethora of overlapping and morphing shapes that suggest femininity, most notably through the prominent depiction of breasts. The color palette—dominantly blue—features circular motifs and patterns that adorn the body, possibly hinting at the mechanistic themes Picabia often explored. The background is enigmatic, holding geometric forms and simplistic representations of faces or masks, surrounded by abstracted symbols that contribute to the dreamlike and uncanny atmosphere characteristic of Surrealism. The depiction of the human body is neither naturalistic nor entirely abstract, showing the artist’s interest in the transformation of form and defying conventional representation.
