The artwork entitled “Woman sitting in an armchair,” created by Pablo Picasso in 1948, exemplifies the surrealism movement through its use of oil on canvas. Measuring 100.5 by 81 cm, this portrait is part of a private collection and captures a distinctive abstract representation characteristic of Picasso’s style during this period.
The artwork features a figure of a woman, deconstructed and reassembled in a non-realist fashion that diverges from traditional portraiture. Picasso utilizes bold colors and geometric shapes to compose the form of the woman and the armchair in which she sits. The background is rendered in a dark hue, allowing the vibrant blues, reds, and whites of the figure to stand out prominently. The face of the woman is simplified to basic elements, with a white disc for a head and stylized features that float freely within this space. The disproportionate and fragmented body parts, typical of Picasso’s interpretation of the human form during his surrealist and cubist phases, challenge the viewer’s perception of perspective and dimensionality. The dynamic composition and striking use of color reflect the artist’s ingenuity in redefining the portrayal of reality through the lens of surrealism.
