Description

The painting is in the Picasso Museum, Hotel Sale, Paris. Neither this poster nor its motif has been reproduced on other posters.

Pablo made a similar version around the same time, which he began on 17 May but did not finish until 7 June. The antecedents for these works are found in the portraits he made between October 1943 and early 1944. During this time, the Master’s works reflected the war and its tensions. On 6 June, the Allies landed in Normandy and on 25 August, Paris was liberated. Is this why Picasso painted Dora holding in her hand what looks like a grenade ready to be thrown? In this portrait of Dora, the chubby nose and cheeks, as well as the firm, closed mouth, are expressionless, static and reveal the repression of her emotions. The large, round eyes stare into the distance, perhaps trying to hide the feelings of this brave woman.