Abstract oil painting Picasso in thought Anatoly Tarabanov

№Tar 399

The oil painting on canvas titled "Picasso in Thought" presents a captivating and introspective portrayal of one of the most influential artists in modern history. The composition blends vibrant abstraction with expressive portraiture to pay homage to Pablo Picasso’s multifaceted genius and complex emotional world. At the heart of the painting is the artist himself, rendered with stark intensity and surrounded by a symbolic collage that alludes to the most iconic motifs of his career and life. Picasso's face dominates the center of the canvas, his expression deeply pensive, with one hand resting against his cheek in a classic pose of contemplation. His gaze is directed forward yet inward, as if he is simultaneously observing the viewer and retreating into his own labyrinth of thoughts. The artist's head and features are constructed using bold, angular planes of color—reds, oranges, yellows, blues, and greens—echoing the Cubist aesthetic he helped pioneer. This technique not only references his artistic legacy but also reflects the emotional fragmentation and depth of his inner world. The background is a pulsating kaleidoscope of references to Picasso’s life and art. To the left of the portrait, a white dove, a recurring symbol of peace in Picasso’s work, takes flight against a vivid red field. This dove evokes both his political ideals and his personal longing for serenity. Behind the dove, shadowy silhouettes and abstract shapes flicker like memories or fragments of past canvases, reinforcing the idea of Picasso's mind as a living museum of his own creations. On the right side of the painting, the head of a bull emerges from the chaotic geometry—another unmistakable symbol from Picasso’s oeuvre, often associated with his “Guernica” and its commentary on war, brutality, and resistance. The bull’s fierce gaze contrasts sharply with the calm sadness of Picasso’s own eyes, perhaps representing the tension between external violence and internal reflection. Various other symbols populate the canvas: a martini glass suggesting indulgence or the passing of time; strings of pearls, evoking the women in Picasso’s life and the complexity of his relationships; and geometric fragments that bring to mind stained glass or shattered mirrors. These elements are woven seamlessly into the tapestry of colors and textures, blurring the line between memory, imagination, and artistic legacy.

*** ABOUT THIS PAINTING ***
* TITLE: "Picasso in thought"
* ARTISTS: Anatoly Tarabanov
* SIZE: 70x90 cm/'27.55x35.43 inches'
* MEDIUM: oil, canvas
* HAND PAINTED: Original painting from our collection
* CONDITION: we tried to convey the maximum information with the help of photos about this product

About the artists: Anatoly Borisovich Tarabanov was born on September 25, 1953 in Zaporozhye.
Artist - painter.
In 1973 he graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk Art College.
Teachers: Kuko, Shchedrov.
Since 1988 member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine.
Since 1978 participated in regional, republican and foreign exhibitions. Works in the field of easel painting. Author of genre paintings, portraits, landscapes. The works are kept in art museums and in private collections of Ukraine, as well as abroad, in particular in Israel, Poland, France, Germany. Works by Tarabanova AB full of motives of philosophy, allegory, lyrical and poetic world outlook.