Bather 1929

Picasso made this painting 'Bather' at some point, we don't know exactly when, using oil on canvas. I find myself immediately drawn to the way Picasso uses a limited palette to create such a dynamic image. The ochre and the blues feel almost like they're in conversation, a push and pull. It's as if he's building the figure from a series of planes and angles, a process of construction, which is really what painting is, right? Look at the way the ochre forms define the shape of the figure and how the sharp triangle that makes up the nose echoes the hard lines of the frame behind her. It's such a playful arrangement of geometric forms. The texture is smooth, almost dreamlike, which only adds to the sense of mystery and uncertainty. This piece reminds me of Leger, who was similarly interested in machine forms. However, there's a certain organic quality to Picasso's work here that sets him apart. Ultimately, the beauty of art lies in its ambiguity and the freedom it gives us to interpret and feel.