Crouching woman 1902

This painting, by Pablo Picasso, uses oil on canvas to create a monochromatic world of blues. It's really something to see how the restrictions he sets for himself—the limited palette, the somber mood—actually open up possibilities. Look closely, and you'll notice how the paint isn't just flat; it's got texture, a kind of physicality that echoes the woman's weary posture. The blues aren't uniform either; they shift and change, from the almost watery washes in the background to the thicker, more sculptural strokes defining her form. See how the brushstrokes around her hunched shoulders seem to swirl and compress, almost as if the weight of the world is pressing down on her. It reminds me a bit of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist who wasn't afraid to confront difficult emotions head-on. Both artists, in their own ways, remind us that art isn't just about pretty pictures, it’s about grappling with the complexities of being human.