Woman with book 1932

In this painting by Pablo Picasso, “Woman with book”, we see angular shapes and bold colours. Just imagine Picasso at the easel, brush in hand, probably a cigarette in his mouth, shifting and simplifying forms, working fast and intuitively. I wonder, what was he thinking? What was the story behind this woman? How did he choose this colour palette? It’s easy to see the ways his brushstrokes build up the painting's surface. Look at the green planes of colour in the woman's face and hair! It's like he has taken a knife to his subject to reconstruct it in a new way. Picasso was a master of line, form and colour and, for me, there is always a sense of playfulness in his art. I find his work so inspiring. Ultimately, the impact of a painting lies in its ability to inspire other artists and viewers. It’s about creating something new from what is already there. It seems to me that the role of the artist is to be open to where the painting takes them.