NARRATOR:
This work, titled Figures by the Sea, was created by Pablo Picasso in 1931. The oil painting measures 130 centimentres in height and 195 centimentres in width, which is roughly the size of a horizontally positioned door.
The painting depicts two abstract human figures lying on top of each other on a beach. Their sand-coloured bodies are made up of smooth geometric forms, accentuated by three-dimensional shadows. Their heads are two hemispherical shapes facing each other with open mouths and spiky tongues as they appear to kiss.
The figure on the right has a long, sinuous body that reclines slightly, revealing rounded hips. One leg is raised, while the other stretches towards the figure on the left. The left figure has a kidney-shaped body and seems to be half-kneeling, with one knee between the other person’s legs. Their arm is extended and placed over the right figure’s head.
Both figures have concave heads, with top structures that resemble noses. Long, pointed shapes extend from their mouths, mimicking the act of two people kissing as their chins gently touch. The right figure's face has two vertically aligned downward arcs that suggest closed eyes, while the left figure's eyes are represented by two small black dots arranged side by side. Between them, two spherical shapes with protruding round dots in the middle suggest a pair of breasts, nestled between their intertwined bodies.
The background features a sandy beach. To the right of the beach, elongated white blocks evoke architecture with pointed and flat roofs. In the distance, we see two horizontal bands of blue: a lighter blue above conjures a clear, cloudless sky, while a vibrant blue below represents a calm sea.
