Crossind Seine on the upper deck 1901

Picasso painted "Crossing Seine on the Upper Deck" with oils. Look at those strokes! They are like little dashes, building up the image piece by piece. You get a sense of the breeze on the water, almost like the paint itself is shimmering. The colours are so evocative, a mix of blues and greens for the water and the buildings, grounded by the warm reds and browns of the boat. It's a scene filled with light and air, but the texture of the paint gives it a real weight. There is a particular mark that grabs me, that thick dab of white on the lady's hat in the foreground. It's such a simple gesture, but it catches the light and brings the whole painting to life. It reminds me of some of the Impressionists, like Manet, but with a slightly rougher edge. You get a sense of Picasso finding his own way. He’s really just having a conversation with art history, taking what he needs, and then going off in his own direction. It's a great reminder that art is never really finished, just constantly evolving.