The artwork “Hairdressing” is an oil on canvas painting by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, created in the year 1906. Measuring 175 x 99.7 cm, this piece is categorized within the genre painting classification and is associated with the Expressionism art movement, which emphasizes the expression of emotional experience over physical reality.
The painting depicts a domestic scene centered on personal grooming. Three figures are portrayed in a room, engaging in the intimate act of hairdressing. The predominant figure, a woman wearing a white blouse, is meticulously braiding another woman’s hair. The woman whose hair is being styled is captured in profile, wearing a blue garment and holding a mirror, observing the progress of the braid. A sense of stillness and concentration exudes from their interaction, highlighting the focus and care that is being invested in the task at hand.
In the foreground of the artwork, a young child sits on the floor with a contemplative or perhaps forlorn expression. The child’s nudity and posture add a sense of vulnerability and innocence to the scene, contrasting with the clothed and engaged adult figures. The use of muted earth tones and the subdued color palette helps to convey an atmosphere of simplicity and earnestness. The distinct brushstrokes and the manner in which the figures are rendered demonstrate Picasso’s distinctive style during this period, capturing the essence of the subjects with both empathy and a touch of abstraction inherent to Expressionism.