Portrait of Bibi la Purée 1901

This portrait of Bibi la Purée was painted by Pablo Picasso with oil on canvas. The visible brushstrokes give us insight into the painting process, and the materiality of the painting influences its appearance and communicates meaning. Picasso has loaded up his brush with paint and applied it to the canvas with an incredible sense of speed and purpose. The marks give the appearance of spontaneity, yet each stroke contributes to the whole image, the final effect emerging from this complex layering process. This way of painting reflects wider social issues of production, especially concerning labor and consumption. We might wonder about the amount of work involved in the production process, both for the artist and for the sitter, whose likeness is captured here with such vibrancy. Considering the materials and techniques employed by Picasso challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, opening up new ways of understanding the full meaning of this artwork.