Le Marin 1943

'Le Marin' by Pablo Picasso is a painting done with expressive brushstrokes and bold outlines. Look closely, and you’ll see how the colours are laid down, each stroke deliberate, building up the form. This is a painting about process. The texture is palpable; you can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the canvas, trying to find the right language to use. The way Picasso renders the stripes of the sailor’s shirt is particularly striking. He doesn’t just fill them in; instead, they pulse with a life of their own. It reminds me of Matisse in its celebration of colour and pattern. But Picasso brings a raw energy that is all his own. Ultimately, Picasso invites us to embrace the messy, ambiguous nature of art.