Man and Woman 1971

'Man and Woman' was painted by Pablo Picasso in 1971, we can see the date written at the top of the canvas. Picasso’s brushwork here is so immediate, it feels like a snapshot of his process. The blue and white tones create a dreamy, almost ethereal quality. The paint application varies from thin washes to thicker, more deliberate strokes, giving the surface a tactile presence. Look at the bold black lines that define the figures, they drip and bleed into the surrounding blue, adding a sense of urgency. Notice the layering of colours, the underpainting peeking through, revealing the history of the painting’s creation. The female figure to the right, so simply rendered in black outline, almost seems to float on the canvas. This painting reminds me of Matisse and his explorations of form and colour. Like Matisse, Picasso embraces ambiguity, inviting us to find our own meanings within his art.