Joueur de flute et mangeur de pastèque 1965

This is one of Picasso’s paintings; it’s called ‘Joueur de flute et mangeur de pastèque’. Imagine him making it, the green strokes of paint swirling around the figures, all bright and loose like he just went for it. I wonder what it felt like for Picasso to make this? The watermelon is practically grinning, and the flute player looks like he's in some kind of trance. Notice how the pink outlines give everything a playful bounce, and the blues kind of ground it all. I am curious about the relationship between the two figures, they’re kind of like a duo. As a painter, I get a kick out of seeing how other artists solve problems, and Picasso, he’s always pushing, always trying new stuff. I like the way this painting feels unfinished, like a sketch, but it’s got so much life. It makes me want to grab a brush and start something new myself, you know?