The buffet of 'Catalan' 1943

This is Picasso’s 'The Buffet of 'Catalan'', an oil on canvas measuring 81 by 100 cm. You can see how this painting emerged, shifting through trial and error, maybe a bit of intuition? There’s this earthy palette, but look at how the light reflects off the angular glasses and plates. I’m trying to imagine what it would have been like to create this still life. What was Picasso thinking? There's so much physicality in the paint itself. See how he’s built up the surface? The paint's not too thick, but it has a certain texture that invites you in. And that little turquoise swirl! It’s like he's winking at us, or maybe that was his mark. I'm reminded of how much he was inspired by other artists, and how his work, in turn, has inspired so many more. Artists, we are always in conversation, always learning from each other across time. Painting embraces ambiguity, it doesn't settle for one fixed meaning.