Moret, Route of Pres 1903

Francis Picabia’s ‘Moret, Route of Pres’ is a painting where the brushstrokes themselves seem to be little pats of color, laid down with an almost tender touch. You can really see Picabia building up the image, one dab at a time. The textures in this piece are so alive. Look at how he renders that dirt road – it’s not just brown, but a whole symphony of ochres, creams, and sandy yellows. The road has a kind of glow from underneath, like the painting is breathing. Then, there's that figure walking, almost swallowed by the landscape, yet their little red hat is like a tiny exclamation point. It’s interesting to see these landscapes in Picabia's early work, knowing he later became such a radical figure. It reminds us that artists don't just spring into being, fully formed, they evolve, experiment, and carry their past with them, even as they break new ground. It makes me think of Pissarro, in a way, that commitment to the everyday, but with Picabia's own restless spirit already simmering beneath the surface.