Skull, urchins and lamp on a table 1943

This Cubist still life of a skull, urchins, and lamp was painted by Pablo Picasso, though the exact date remains unknown. It’s amazing how Picasso's limited palette of greys, blacks, and whites, punctuated by these spiky urchins, creates such a moody scene. The way he builds up forms with these faceted planes reminds me of carving. You can almost feel the push and pull of the brush, the physicality of his process. Take a look at the lamp. It's this strange, looming presence. You get a sense of weight and shadow. I love how Picasso uses these dark outlines to define the shapes, creating a sense of depth. But there’s something playful about it too. Picasso was always in conversation with other artists, and I can see traces of Cézanne’s influence here, in the way he breaks down objects into their essential forms. But ultimately, Picasso is Picasso. He takes these ideas and makes them his own. And, like all great art, this painting invites us to bring our own interpretations to the table.