The artwork titled “Two nude women” was created by the acclaimed artist Pablo Picasso in the year 1920. This piece is representative of the Neoclassical period during which Picasso revisited classical themes and motifs, contributing to the broader Neoclassicism movement. The genre of this creation can be categorized as a sketch and study, suggesting an exploration of form and composition that focuses on the human figure.
The artwork presents a depiction of two female figures captured in a state of undress, with partial draperies wrapped around their lower bodies. Picasso employs a subdued palette, which allows the focus to remain on the sculptural quality of the figures and their interaction. Their poses are classical in their contrapposto, with one figure positioned slightly behind the other, which provides a sense of depth and intimacy between them. The women are depicted with rounded, voluminous forms, a notable departure from the fragmented and angular shapes often associated with Picasso’s Cubist period. The rendering of their anatomy is soft and smooth, reminiscent of Renaissance and ancient sculptures, which emphasizes the neoclassical theme Picasso is evoking.
It is difficult to read the expressions on the faces of the women due to the stylization common in Picasso’s works, but there seems to be an element of tenderness or introspection. The foreground woman’s arm is gently placed upon the other’s thigh, demonstrating a sense of physical and perhaps emotional connection between them. The brushwork and the application of color in the artwork are both considered and deliberate, further accentuating the bodies and drapery, and creating an empathetic study of human form and emotion.
