Woman with hat 1901

This is “Woman with hat”, painted by Pablo Picasso with oil on canvas. The texture of the painting is determined by the artist’s gestures, by the way that paint has been dragged and pulled across the surface with a brush. Oil paint is an interesting material because it gives the artist a relatively long time to rework the surface before it dries. The materiality of oil paint lends itself to both precision and expressiveness, as it is possible to build layers of color, creating depth and luminosity. The way Picasso has applied the paint is very gestural, and the visible brushstrokes give the impression that it was made quite quickly. This expressive approach to the materials signals a break with the academic tradition, which emphasizes a smooth, polished surface. By understanding the materiality of oil paint and Picasso’s process, we can appreciate how the artist's choices contribute to the work's meaning, and how the relationship between art and craft is challenged.