Bust of woman 1906

Here’s a small oil on board, a "Bust of a Woman" by Picasso. I’m struck by the immediacy of the paint handling here. It's so direct, so economical. The colours are muted and earthy, mostly browns and creams, which gives it a kind of humble feel. Up close, you can really see the texture of the brushstrokes. They’re quite visible, aren’t they? Especially around the nose and eyes. The paint isn’t blended smoothly; it’s left rough and raw. It looks like he might have used a dry brush in places, dragging the paint across the surface to create a slightly scratchy effect. It's like he’s building the form out of these simple marks. This makes me think of Cézanne, who was also interested in building forms through colour and brushstroke. With Picasso, it's like he's always in conversation with the history of painting, pushing it forward while still referencing the past. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue, constantly evolving and changing.