The Martigues 1904

Francis Picabia's 'The Martigues' is a painting of a boat made with oil on canvas, we aren't sure exactly when. The paint is applied with loose, visible brushstrokes, like Impressionist techniques but with a rawness that is all Picabia. Look at the lower left corner, and the way the artist has captured the sand and water with a few loaded strokes. It seems like Picabia is inviting us to see the world as a collection of sensations rather than fixed forms. It's like he's saying, "Here's what it feels like to be here, now." The color palette is muted, yet the way the artist uses yellow in small pops of color, like on the front of the boat, helps to punctuate the scene with a certain vividness. This piece anticipates his later, more experimental work with its rejection of conventional representation in favor of personal expression. He's always been in dialogue with painters, like Monet, whilst pushing back against tradition.