The artwork “Lying female nude” by Pablo Picasso, dated 1964, is a testament to the artist’s exploration within the realms of Expressionism and Naïve Art, also known as Primitivism. The dimensions of the artwork measure 65 by 100 centimeters, and it falls under the genre of nude painting (nu), which has been a pivotal theme throughout art history.
The artwork depicts a reclining female figure, portrayed in a highly stylized and abstract manner, characteristic of Picasso’s late style. There is a considerable amount of geometric simplification of forms, along with a playful yet assertive use of line and color that define the figure’s contours and bodily structure. The color palette is limited but bold, with the use of blues and greens in the background contrasted against the warm tones of the figure and the starkness of the white lines. Despite the abstracted form, the traditional pose associated with the reclining nude is still discernible, albeit fragmented and reimagined through Picasso’s unique visual language. The interplay of curved and straight lines, along with the disjointed shapes, invoke a sense of movement and vitality. The painting is a vivid example of Picasso’s continued innovation in the representation of the human form and his ability to evoke complex, emotional states through his art.
