Portrait of Erik Satie 1920

This is Pablo Picasso’s ‘Portrait of Erik Satie’, made with ink on paper. Look at the way Picasso has quickly sketched this portrait – it’s all about process, a rapid capturing of a presence. There’s an energy to the line, it’s not overworked, it’s there, then gone. It's a great example of mark making. The lines vary, from thick strokes defining the outline of Satie’s suit to finer, more delicate lines describing his hands and face. The texture of the paper is visible throughout, giving the drawing a raw, immediate feel. It's like Picasso is thinking out loud. I’m drawn to the hands, so precisely drawn, it's clear he spent more time rendering these than the rest of the portrait. This reminds me of the work of David Hockney, another artist fascinated by portraiture and the possibilities of line. Art is this ongoing conversation, this game of telephone across generations. There's no one right way to read a piece of art, which is what makes it so exciting.