The artwork “Young naked girl with flower basket” is an oil on canvas painting created by artist Pablo Picasso in 1905, measuring 155 by 66 centimeters. As a work categorized under the genre of nude painting (nu), it resonates with the Expressionism movement and is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork portrays a young, standing female figure holding a basket of vibrant red flowers. She is presented completely unclothed, with her frontal form facing the viewer. Her physique is rendered with a soft naturalism that is characteristic of Picasso’s work during this period, often referred to as his Rose Period. The subject’s facial expression appears contemplative or solemn, adding a layer of emotional depth to the piece.
The color palette is relatively muted, with the backdrop consisting of cool blues and grays that contrast gently against the warm tones of the subject’s skin. The use of light and shadow provides the figure with a sense of volume and presence in the otherwise minimally defined space. Notably, the flowers in the basket stand out with their intense red hue, drawing the viewer’s eye and lending an element of vitality to the composition.
Picasso’s technique and brushwork in the artwork imbue it with a tenderness and sensitivity that is evocative of the artist’s capacity for capturing the nuances of the human condition through his art. The handling of the nude subject is neither overtly erotic nor idealized but seems to convey a more personal, introspective narrative, inviting contemplation regarding the inner life of the figure portrayed.
