Angel Fernandez de Soto and his Friend 1903

Pablo Picasso made "Angel Fernandez de Soto and his Friend" with pastel crayons, and you can see the smudgy process right there on the paper. It’s like he built the image up from dust, rubbing colors together, letting them mix and separate in unpredictable ways. The surface is chalky and soft, with layers of pigment creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. Look at the way he uses the pastel to define the woman's dress, those scribbly strokes of yellow and orange, barely contained within the lines. It's like he's capturing not just the color but also the texture of the fabric, the way it catches the light. Then there's that blue vase filled with fruit – it's so vibrant and alive, almost leaping off the surface. This piece reminds me of Degas, but with a raw, untamed energy all his own. It shows how art is always in conversation, borrowing and building upon what came before, while also pushing boundaries and forging new paths. Ultimately, it embraces the messy, imperfect beauty of life.