Profile of a young girl (Girl with red flower in her hair) 1901

Picasso painted this profile of a young woman with a red flower in her hair using oils. I imagine him using quite dry brushes, with thick bristles, to lay down the paint in these choppy, vigorous strokes. I can almost feel the painting coming into being, one stroke at a time. The yellow background seems to vibrate with an inner light, creating a halo effect around her dark hair. And then there is the flower. It is not merely decorative, but almost like an extension of her personality. Perhaps it is a symbol of her youth, beauty, or burgeoning creativity. Who was she? What was she thinking when Picasso painted her? Picasso was always in conversation with other artists, and I am sure he had many sources in mind, from Impressionism to folk art. It's all part of this wonderful, ongoing exchange that spans centuries. This painting reminds us that art is never created in a vacuum. It is always part of something bigger than ourselves.