The artwork titled “Untitled (Head of a Woman; unfinished)” dates from 1981 and represents a creation of the renowned artist Salvador Dali. While the piece is characterized by its association with the expressionist movement, it classifies as a portrait, capturing the essence of a woman’s visage. The artist never completed this work, which invites contemplation about its intended final form and the artistic process.
The artwork depicts the profile of a woman’s head and shoulders in a stark contrast of light and shadow, rendered in a monochromatic palette. The figure’s facial features are absent, leaving a blank canvas where one would expect to see details such as eyes, nose, and mouth. The unfinished nature of the portrait creates a sense of mystery and incompleteness, as the viewer is compelled to imagine the missing elements. The background is uniformly dark, which accentuates the luminosity of the woman’s silhouette and adds a dramatic effect to the composition. The portrait, although incomplete, showcases a certain intensity and rawness that are emblematic of expressionist works, inviting an emotional and introspective response from the observer.