The artwork titled “Head of a man” is a piece attributed to Pablo Picasso, dating back to circa 1913. This portrait was rendered in oil on canvas and falls under the Synthetic Cubism art movement. The piece’s dimensions are 65 x 46 cm. The artwork can be found in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum located in Madrid, Spain.
The artwork exhibits characteristics typical of Picasso’s Synthetic Cubism phase, notable for its geometric simplification and abstraction. Both organic and geometric shapes are juxtaposed to construct the figure. The palette appears subdued, consisting of earthy tones accented with segments of black and a hint of red. The figure is fragmented into various planes and sections, creating a multifaceted representation of the head. Textural elements seem incorporated, possibly through techniques such as collage, which was a common practice in Picasso’s synthetic cubist works. The overall composition, while abstract, still provides recognizable elements of a human face, such as a side profile and frontal elements, merged into a single harmonious but complex form. The use of symbols and the play with spatial depth and flatness are reminiscent of Picasso’s exploration of perception and the deconstruction of form.
