Lithograph, high-grade Arches paper, dimensions:63 x 45 cm passe-partout, 74 x 56 cm framed passe-partout
Limited edition, numbered in pencil 94/200 l.d.
Issued by the Pablo Picasso Foundation, graphic mark of the Fondation Pablo Picasso on the reverse.
Original certificate.
"Man in a Straw Hat" (original title: "L'Homme au chapeau de paille") is a painting painted by Pablo Picasso in 1938. It is one of numerous portraits created by the artist, in which he applied his characteristic Cubist style, which he developed in the early 20th century.
According to Picasso's son, Claud Ruiz Picasso, it is a self-portrait of his father painted in response to Van Gogh's self-portrait.
The painting depicts a man wearing a straw hat eating an ice cream. The man's face is depicted in Picasso's typical Cubist style, meaning the representation is deformed and geometric. The facial features are spread out in different directions, giving the portrait a multi-dimensional and abstract look. The colors are vivid and contrasting, which further emphasizes the dynamic nature of the work.
Picasso, in his Cubist phase, sought to deconstruct traditional forms of representation and explore different perspectives simultaneously. In "The Man in the Straw Hat," these assumptions are clearly evident. Picasso's Cubism involves breaking objects into fragments and reassembling them in a way that does not reflect realistic proportions, but rather a multifaceted view of the object.
"Man in a Straw Hat" is an important work in the context of Picasso's oeuvre, as it demonstrates his continued evolution as an artist and his ability to experiment with form and content. The painting exemplifies his ability to combine abstraction with elements of reality, which has become one of his trademarks.
