Sculptor at Rest III (Le repos du sculpteur III) 1933

This is an etching by Picasso, called Sculptor at Rest III. The plate is small, just a little bigger than a piece of paper. It shows a sculptor, probably Picasso, reclining next to a sleeping nude, with two horses coupling in the background. It's all done in this light, airy line. I can just imagine Picasso in his studio, thinking about the old masters, maybe Rembrandt, who was also amazing at etching, and just letting his imagination run wild. What was he thinking when he made this? The relaxed pose of the sculptor, contrasted with the dynamic energy of the horses, it is a wonderful composition. It is a reminder that art isn't just about the finished product; it's about the whole messy, complicated process of thinking, feeling, and making. Picasso was definitely talking to other artists through his work. He's showing us that painting, etching, whatever, is always a conversation across time, inspiring each other, pushing boundaries.