Suzy Solidor 1935

Francis Picabia painted Suzy Solidor using thin layers of paint, almost like watercolor washes, which gives it this dreamy, ethereal quality. The texture is smooth, almost like skin itself, and the colors are muted, soft pinks, blues, and greens. Look at the way the background color bleeds into the figure, there's a real subtlety in how it’s done. The garland of flowers around her neck, each petal and leaf is so delicately rendered. There's a gentleness to it, but at the same time, a boldness in its simplicity. You can see a lot of the canvas underneath the paint. Picabia was always experimenting. He reminds me a bit of Marlene Dumas, both artists who weren't afraid to embrace vulnerability and ambiguity in their work.