The artwork entitled “Portrait of the Artist’s Mother” is an oil on canvas painting by the esteemed artist Pablo Picasso, created in the year 1896. As an early piece from Picasso’s oeuvre, it is rendered in the Realism art movement and constitutes a portrait genre, reflecting a representation of personal and familial connections. Picasso, who would later become synonymous with Cubism and modern abstract art, here presents a realistic and tender portrayal far from his later avant-garde experimentations.
The artwork meticulously captures a woman’s profile with a dignified and serene disposition. The sitter, Picasso’s own mother, is rendered with delicate brushwork, presenting smooth transitions of light and shade that reveal the contours of her face and clothing. An understated palette creates an intimate atmosphere, emphasizing the subject’s placid features and the soft textural quality of her white garment.
In the lower right corner, one can discern Picasso’s signature and the date, indicating the provenance and authenticity of the artwork. This early work in Picasso’s career demonstrates his technical proficiency and attention to realistic detail before his evolution toward groundbreaking artistic innovations later in his life.
