Figure (Bather in a Cabin) 1929

Here's a drawing by Picasso of a figure in a cabin, done with crayon, I'd guess. I imagine him hunched over the paper, trying to nail down this bather, this person in their architectural setting. It's kind of sympathetic, the way he’s got her in this boxy space – I feel for him. I think he's wondering, ‘How do I get this person down, make it real, but not too real?’ The crayon marks are thick and thin, like he’s pressing hard in some places, then letting up. I notice this vertical stripe and circle, holding the figure together. That stripe seems to be supporting the figure, like it’s all about balance. It reminds me of other times artists have tried to figure out bodies, like de Kooning’s 'Women' series or even some of Guston’s late stuff. It’s like they're all talking to each other across time, trying to get this thing down, this feeling of being human. I love that conversation.