The artwork titled “Female nude sitting in red armchair,” created by Pablo Picasso in 1932, is an oil on canvas painting belonging to the Cubism art movement. With dimensions of 130.2 x 97.2 cm, this nude painting (nu) is housed at the Tate Modern in London, UK.
The artwork features a female figure seated in a plush red armchair. The use of color in the painting is striking, with a contrast between the vivid red of the chair and the more subdued tones of the figure’s pale body. Picasso’s unique interpretation of form, a hallmark of his Cubist style, is apparent in the deconstructed representation of the human body, which is rendered in a series of fragmented shapes and planes. Despite the distortion of form, the figure’s femininity is emphasized by her pronounced curves and the rounded forms that compose her figure.
Picasso’s exploration of perspective is prevalent, as the artwork does not conform to a traditional three-dimensional space, instead presenting a flattened yet dynamic composition that challenges the viewer’s perception. The subject’s face is depicted with minimal features yet shows a discernible expression of introspection or repose, with her hand thoughtfully placed against her cheek, and her gaze appearing detached and inward-looking. The embellishments, such as the beads around her neck, add a decorative element to the otherwise minimalist rendering of the figure. Overall, the painting exemplifies Picasso’s revolutionary approach to representation and his ability to evoke emotion and depth within the constraints of Cubist abstraction.