Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (1932)

Pablo Picasso, a Spanish painter, is one of the most well-known artists in art history overall. Picasso experimented mostly with the Cubist and Surrealist movements during the course of his long career. He also produced some pieces of art that were seen as belonging to the Abstract Art movement. Nude, Green Leaves and Bust, painted in 1932, is regarded as one of his best abstract art paintings among all of his creations.

Picasso depicted Marie-Thérèse Walter, his mistress at the time, in Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust. This portrait of Walter is dedicated to her and the enormous influence she had on Picasso. Picasso saw Walter as his muse. This abstract piece of art is over a meter tall and has a depiction of Walters as a slightly stylized and abstracted person reclining in front of a vivid blue curtain. She appears surrounded by what appear to be unrelated items, such as a plant, a bust perched atop a pedestal, and some fruit.

Picasso and Walters had a sensual relationship, which was well captured in this magnificent work of art. The abstracted figure in the painting and the use of a curtain suggest an air of mystery and privacy, which he maintained their relationship a secret from his wife for years. Picasso was able to further obscure Walters' identity by painting her in this manner, in addition to producing a form that was at first difficult for spectators to comprehend logically.

Due to the methods and components employed by Picasso to create Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust, it is regarded as a prominent example of abstract art. The figure's face is hidden, which emphasizes this, as does the confusion that surrounds the objects that are visible.

The use of primary colors in the background indicates the compositional harmony that was achieved through their employment and alludes to the method popularized by fellow artist Piet Mondrian.

Thus, Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust is recognized as a significant work of abstract art because Picasso skillfully incorporated aspects of several genres into its distinctive composition. When it was sold at auction for $106.5 million in 2010, it also shattered the previous record for the most expensive painting ever sold. As of right now, Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust are the works of art with the third-highest auction price ever.

Artist: Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973)
Date Painted: 1932
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 162 cm x 130 cm (64 in x 51 in)
Where It Is Currently Housed: Currently on long-term loan to the Tate Modern, England