Woman with cap 1934

Picasso made 'Woman with Cap' with oil on wood, and he's not trying to fool anyone about that, is he? It’s like he’s saying, "Hey, this is paint, and I'm pushing it around." I find myself drawn to the thick, almost sculptural quality of the paint. The color palette isn’t naturalistic, it's emotional. I see green, blue, purple... the artist is not trying to recreate an image, he’s trying to express something. The texture of the brushstrokes is rough, immediate, as if he wants us to feel the energy of the moment. Look at the line describing the profile. It's a thick red outline, separating the left and right sides of the face. It’s a strong, decisive line, it doesn't apologize. I think of Matisse when I look at this piece. Both artists shared an interest in the power of color, but Matisse often sought harmony, while Picasso goes for the jugular, embracing discordance. What I like about this painting is its rawness and the way it celebrates the process of painting. It’s like a conversation, where the artist is thinking out loud with paint.