Portrait of Gustave Coquiot 1901

Here at the Georges Pompidou Center is Picasso’s portrait of Gustave Coquiot, painted with oil on canvas. Look at those juicy brushstrokes, all thick and creamy, especially in the white shirt, and around the background figures. I like how you can see Picasso trying to capture the feeling of a person more than aiming for a perfect likeness. I wonder what Picasso was thinking as he built up these layers of paint, stroke by stroke. Did he have an argument with Coquiot that morning? Did he like the dancers in the background? I notice that the sitter’s hand is painted in green, a color that echoes the leafy pattern of the chair. Was it intentional? I love to imagine artists being in conversation across time. This work reminds me of Van Gogh, in the way it captures a real person in an emotional way. Painting can do that, transform the way we see and feel, even years later. It’s not just about what's on the canvas but about opening up possibilities.