Young and beautiful, her arms cradle a large oval mirror as she gazes at her reflection, surrounded by bold diamond shaped geometric patterns, with vertical and horizontal stripes rendered in vibrant saturated hues—pigments chosen for their emotive source of colour rather than expressing the intended scene . . .
Looking back at her from the depths of the mirror is the image of an ugly old woman – her hard, angular features expressed in sombre colours. Is this painting Picasso’s reminder that death devours all lovely things?
