The artwork titled “Bust of woman” is a work by Pablo Picasso, created in the year 1965. It is a portrait executed using oil on canvas, measuring 99.5 x 80.5 cm. This piece is associated with Expressionism and Naïve Art, also known as Primitivism, movements that are renowned for their emotional intensity and the use of simple or unsophisticated forms.
The artwork features a stylistic depiction of a female bust. Picasso’s use of bold lines to contour the subject’s features, along with the abstracted and simplified form, is evident here. The painting presents the subject’s face in a profile view while incorporating elements of the frontal perspective, a hallmark of Picasso’s approach to portraiture where multiple viewpoints are merged into a single plane.
The color palette in the artwork is restrained yet striking, with a dominant background of grey hues allowing the vibrancy of the red-orange patterns on the subject’s clothing to stand out. The face and neck of the woman are depicted in a pale white, with dark outlines delineating her facial features. Notable are the blue accents in the eyes, giving them prominence in the composition.
In true Picasso fashion, the features of the woman are exaggerated and abstracted: the eyes are oversized with heavy lashes, the nose is distinctly angular, and the mouth more a suggestion than a realistic representation. The treatment of light and shadow on the face is minimal, emphasizing the form over the depth. The overall effect is one of power and immediacy, a testament to Picasso’s unique vision and his capacity to evoke both the physical and psychological essence of his subjects through avant-garde techniques.
