The artwork titled “Woman sitting in an armchair” is a creation by Pablo Picasso dated to 1920. This portrait is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 130 by 89 centimeters. The piece reflects elements of both Cubism and Surrealism, movements with which Picasso is closely associated.
In this artwork, Picasso employs his signature cubist style, characterized by fragmented and geometric forms. The composition is both abstract and figurative, as shapes and planes overlap to redefine the human form in a novel representation. The use of bold and contrasting colors further emphasizes the division of space and the multifaceted nature of the subject. The woman depicted is composed of a series of intersecting planes and angles, and her pose and the armchair she occupies are only suggestively rendered through these forms and the play of light and shadow. The figure’s face, as in many of Picasso’s works from this era, is particularly stylized, with features such as the eyes, nose, and mouth dissected and rearranged in unconventional perspectives. This technique is evocative of the period’s fascination with the subconscious and the alteration of reality, a hallmark of both Cubist and Surrealist imagery. Despite the disjointed representation, there is still a sense of depth and dimensionality that Picasso has masterfully maintained throughout the canvas. The portrait stands as a testament to the artist’s groundbreaking approach to form, perspective, and the inherent plasticity of the visual medium.
