Woman Sitting in a Garden [verso] 1901

Picasso made this painting of a woman in a garden with oil on canvas. It’s a cascade of thick strokes in muted colors like white, green, yellow, and blue, building up an image through the layering of paint. I imagine Picasso outside, squinting at the light as he tries to capture the essence of the woman and her floral surroundings. The woman is only just visible, almost merging with the light. The garden is thick and lush, rendered with short, repetitive marks. He's really got to be in it to let it all happen. I think of Monet, of course, and Cezanne, both of whom he knew. But it’s also pure Picasso, with the quickness and confidence of his brushwork. Paintings like this remind us that art isn't about perfection, but about feeling and seeing and responding to the world. It’s about embracing the conversation that painters have been having across time, each adding their own voice to the mix. It is not about fixed meanings but embracing uncertainty, allowing for many possibilities.