The artwork titled “Woman with bouquet” is a painting by Pablo Picasso completed in 1936. This oil on canvas piece bears the distinct stylistic features of the Surrealism movement. The dimensions of the artwork measure 73 by 60 centimeters, and it is categorized within the genre of portraiture.
In the artwork, Picasso presents a highly stylized representation of a figure holding a bouquet. Characteristic of Picasso’s surrealistic phase, the composition eschews realistic portrayals for fragmented and abstracted forms. The central figure — presumably the woman referenced in the title — is composed of curved and organic shapes that echo both human forms and elements of the natural world. Her face is simplified with a minimalistic approach, yet still provides a sense of personality and presence.
To her right, there is a vase with flowers, depicted with less abstraction, that provides a contrast to the fluidity and distortion of the woman’s form. This juxtaposition creates a dynamic tension within the spatial relationships of the painting. Background and foreground intermingle, with muted and pastel colors that harmonize the overall composition, establishing a dream-like atmosphere typical of the era’s surrealist explorations. The individual elements of the painting, though disparate in their construction, collectively offer a narrative that guides the viewer through Picasso’s unique visual language of surrealism.
