The artwork titled “Woman on the street” is a creation of the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, dated to the year 1901. It is an exquisite piece executed using Indian ink and watercolor on paper, and is a fine representation of the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. The dimensions of the artwork measure a modest 17.5 x 9.5 cm, fitting into the genre painting category, which often depicts scenes of everyday life.
The artwork portrays the figure of a woman occupying the central part of the composition. Her posture appears relaxed yet poised as she walks, with one hand resting by her side and the other lightly touching her attire. The woman is adorned with a vibrant, patterned hat that draws attention, lending a dash of color to her otherwise muted ensemble. Her facial features are depicted with a sense of softness against the crisp lines that define her form. The use of watercolors brings a delicate translucency to the piece, creating an ethereal blend of colors that contrast with the sharper ink lines.
In the background, there are hints of an urban setting with subtle representations of what could be interpreted as street lamps and other pedestrians, though these are rendered with less detail than the principal subject. The artist’s use of fluid, sketchy lines and a limited color palette centers the focus on the woman, imbuing her with a sense of movement and individuality against the more obscure and impressionistic backdrop. The artwork’s scale, combined with Picasso’s economy of line and color, provides an intimate glimpse into this brief moment captured from street life at the turn of the 20th century.
