Head of a man with straw hat 1971

Pablo Picasso painted this “Head of a Man with Straw Hat” with oil on canvas, and it's a wild ride of colour and form. Look at how the brushstrokes build up, thick and loose, creating a surface that feels alive. It’s like watching Picasso think on the canvas, each stroke a decision, a correction, a revelation. The texture is key here. See how the paint clumps and drags, especially in the hat and around the eyes? It’s not about smooth illusionism; it’s about the sheer physicality of paint. The colours, too, are intense and somewhat clashing, which gives the whole thing a raw, emotional edge. Those big, staring eyes—so simple yet so powerful—they grab you and won't let go. This piece reminds me of the work of Francis Bacon, who also wasn’t afraid to distort and push the boundaries of portraiture, maybe art is just a game of seeing how far you can push something before it breaks.