Studio 1927

Pablo Picasso made this painting ‘Studio’ with oil on canvas. Looking at this work, I think Picasso must have been thinking about the bare bones of things: what is a person, what is a space, what is a painting even? The color palette is restricted to yellow, red, black, grey, and white, as if he set himself some rules. It's very architectural. The lines form a rudimentary structure, like a child’s drawing of a house. But then the ovals with eyes enter the scene. I wonder if he was thinking about his own presence in the studio, trying to grasp his own image, seeing himself as a series of simple shapes. You can sense his hand in the confident brushstrokes and the bold arrangement of forms. It reminds me a little bit of Léger, but with a more playful, personal touch. The conversations between artists are never ending. It is nice when they stop to say hello!