The artwork, titled “Portrait of Marie-Thérèse in a Red Beret,” was made by artist Pablo Picasso in 1937. This work is representative of the Surrealism movement and is categorized as a portrait. The painting captures Marie-Thérèse Walter, Picasso’s muse and lover, characterized by the notable style of the period and the artist’s unique interpretative approach to portraiture.
The artwork presents a visage with skewed proportions, a hallmark of Picasso’s approach to form and a testament to his interest in abstraction as a means of expressing more than a literal portrayal. The subject’s face is both frontal and in profile, with a placid expression. The use of bold, unblended colors, including the titular red of the beret, a striking contrast to the predominantly cool palette of the face, suggests a departure from reality towards a more interpretative, emotion-driven representation. The background is minimal, with a flat, vibrant red that accentuates the foreground and enhances the overall intensity of the composition. The interplay between two-dimensionality and the suggestion of three-dimensional form challenges the viewer’s perception and invites a deeper engagement with the subject’s psyche and the painting’s emotional context.
