Final answer:
Picasso's Rose Period is characterized by subjects painted in a monochromatic rose color palette, which denotes a more optimistic phase with warmer and cheerier tones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Picasso's "Rose Period" was characterized by a shift in his color palette to warmer tones, such as pinks and oranges, as well as lighter blues and greys. This period followed his melancholic Blue Period, signifying a more optimistic phase in Picasso's life and works.
During the Rose Period, Picasso focused on subjects like circus performers and harlequins, depicted in a more cheerful and vibrant manner, capturing their spirit and character with delicate rose and lighter color palettes. This was not a time of subjects in grayscale, nor was it defined by bold, contrasting colors or distorted proportions which are more reminiscent of his Cubist works. Instead, Picasso's Rose Period is best described by option a: Subjects painted in a monochromatic rose color palette, emphasizing the use of color to convey emotion.