L'Autruche (The Ostrich) 1941 - 1942

This is 'The Ostrich' by Pablo Picasso, a drawing probably made with ink on paper. The marks here are so expressive, like little energetic scribbles that come together to form this amazing creature. It reminds us that artmaking is a process of discovery, where the artist is constantly responding to the marks they've already made. I love the way the black ink sits on the paper. Some areas are dense and solid, while others are light and scratchy, almost like he was using different tools, or varying the pressure he used to apply the ink. Look at the ostrich's body, it is this mass of swirling lines and shapes. It's like he's trying to capture the bird’s energy, its wildness, in a single gesture. This relates to Picasso's wider work, where he continually experimented with form and representation, pushing the boundaries of what art could be. It makes me think of Cy Twombly, in the way they both used loose, gestural marks to create a sense of movement and energy. Ultimately, art is about exploring and questioning, and this piece is a perfect example of that spirit.