Portrait of the Artist 1903

This is a portrait of the artist Picasso, it's hard to pin down when he made it, but it looks like it was made with watercolor and ink on paper. I wonder if Picasso ever felt weird painting himself, you know? Like, was it a moment of vanity or just plain curiosity? I've painted myself a few times, and it's always a strange experience. Anyway, in this portrait, what strikes me most is the confident contour line. The way the ink confidently swoops around his face, capturing his profile, it’s like a dance. And then there's the gentle wash of color that fills in the details. It is thinly applied, but really brings out the brown of his hair and mustache, while also casting this warm glow on his skin. You know, making art is like having a conversation with other artists, and I love how Picasso never stopped experimenting, always pushing the boundaries of what painting could be.