Man and Woman 1958

Picasso made this painting, *Man and Woman*, using oil paint, with a commitment to earthy yellows and browns. The way he's brushed the paint on feels so intuitive, like he’s figuring it out as he goes, you know? Look at the texture of the paint, how it builds up in certain spots, especially around the figures' outlines. It's not about perfection, but about the physicality of the medium. There's a rawness to it that’s really appealing; like in the pregnant woman's abdomen, it becomes this dark, almost volcanic shape. It stands out against the flatness of the surrounding areas, adding a sense of depth and weight to the figure. It reminds me a bit of Guston's later work, with its unapologetic directness and embrace of awkwardness. Picasso isn’t afraid to leave things unresolved, inviting us to engage with the painting on our own terms.