The Sun King 1901

Pablo Picasso painted this picture, The Sun King, with oil on canvas, and it’s now hanging in the Hermitage. Look closely and you’ll see the paint is daubed on, a mix of earthy browns, greens and reds. The brushstrokes are thick and juicy, not blended but distinct, which gives everything a tactile energy. The girl herself seems to be emerging from a haze of pure colour. The heavy impasto of the white frills on her dress feel particularly alive, like individual moments of perception frozen in time. They almost vibrate against the green of her dress. And just look at those yellow boots! Placed on the canvas with confident strokes. You might find echoes of Manet in the way he captures a fleeting moment with such vibrancy, but Picasso’s unique approach to materials and colour signals the beginning of his journey towards redefining what painting could be.