Public Garden 1901

This is a 34 by 52 cm oil on canvas painting by Pablo Picasso, called Public Garden. It's now in a private collection. I find this piece so interesting for its approach to mark-making, everything seems to blend and move at once. Looking at the painting, you'll notice the canvas is alive with visible brushstrokes. The paint isn't shy; it's laid on with purpose, creating a surface you can almost feel. It’s not just about what's depicted, but how it's depicted. The colours, mostly muted greens and browns, give it an earthy feel, like you're really standing in that garden. But then, there's that splash of red in the woman's shirt – it pulls you right in. That red is laid on thick and opaque, making it stand out against the muted background. This reminds me of other artists who aren't afraid to leave the process visible, like Cezanne, who was making all these marks to show you that the world is always changing. Picasso’s early works show a similar understanding, that art is a conversation, an exchange of ideas. It's not about perfect representation, but about embracing ambiguity, inviting us to see and feel the world in new ways.