The roofs of Barcelona in the moonlight 1903

Pablo Picasso painted *The Roofs of Barcelona in the Moonlight* using oil on canvas, an established medium for fine art painting. The choice of oil paint gives the work its distinctive texture, allowing Picasso to build up layers and create a sense of depth despite the limited palette. The brushstrokes, though visible, blend seamlessly to create a harmonious, melancholic atmosphere. The near monochromatic use of blue, a manufactured pigment, saturates the scene, imbuing the cityscape with a cool, ethereal quality. Picasso, of course, was working in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, during which paint production had become radically cheaper and more widely available. So, while oil paint was by no means a new medium, its prevalence and accessibility allowed artists to engage with it in unprecedented ways. Understanding Picasso's work involves appreciating not only his artistic skill but also the materials and historical context that shaped his creative expression.