The artwork “Nude with raised arms” by Pablo Picasso dates back to 1907 and is an intimate example of his early exploration in the genre of nude painting (nu). Executed using chalk and pastel on paper, this piece predates the artist’s fully developed Cubist style but hints at the fragmentation and abstraction that would come to characterize his later work. The artwork is part of a private collection and is not on public display.
In the artwork, a figure is depicted with a simplicity that resonates with the emerging avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. The subject’s form is delineated with bold outlines against a backdrop of vibrant, yet restrained color blocks. The titular raised arms gesture contributes to a sense of immediacy and movement, despite the static medium. Picasso’s use of shading and light lends volume and depth, playing with traditional representations of the human form. The artwork’s intimate scale and direct, yet subdued treatment of the figure suggest a private contemplation of form and color.
