Seated woman (Olga) 1920

This is a drawing by Picasso, and it’s of a seated woman, Olga, and it’s made with decisive and subtle lines. I imagine Picasso drawing and redrawing the lines, searching for the form, sometimes hesitating and then going in with assuredness. It's like watching a dance unfold on paper, where the lines themselves pirouette and pause. I think he must have been looking intensely, trying to capture her essence, or maybe something about their relationship. The sketchiness makes me feel that the work is intimate and personal, a fleeting impression. You get a sense that every stroke matters, like he’s not just drawing what he sees but also what he feels. The pressure of the pencil on the page conveys the emotional weight. And just look at how the dress cascades around her form, rendered with such economy, such grace. I think about other artists who were inspired by Picasso's process. Artists are constantly inspired by each other! This conversation never ends, and this is what keeps the world so interesting.