Man with lamb, man eating watermelon and flutist 1967

This is Pablo Picasso’s sketch from 1967, "Man with lamb, man eating watermelon and flutist," made with simple lines on paper; economical, but packed with info. The ink is translucent, with the paper showing through, creating a sense of depth. The lines seem to be made without hesitation, loose and free, like a jazz solo. See how the simple, hatched shading on the block seat makes it sink back into space. The ink strokes describe these figures with a playful, restless energy that brings them to life. Check out the lamb’s wool - a bunch of curly cues that form a cloud around his body. It's almost cartoonish, but there is something profound about its simplicity. Picasso once said that it took him a lifetime to learn to draw like a child. I think this lamb would make him happy. There’s an innocence here, and joy, that feels connected to other artists, like Joan Miró, who found ways to play with form and figure. It reminds us that art is a playground of endless possibilities, a space where we can make anything happen.