Woman with cap 1901

"Woman with cap" is an oil painting, made by Pablo Picasso, but we do not know exactly when. What really jumps out at me when I see this painting is the mark making: it’s robust and assured, but also feels quite precarious. The material qualities of the painting are also striking: the textures, brushstrokes and layering of paint all contribute to a sense of depth and movement. It feels as though Picasso is building up the image piece by piece. There is a lovely white highlight that runs along the figure’s collar, where a thick impasto of paint creates a textural contrast with the smoother areas of the face. This textural contrast reminds me a little of Van Gogh, who also built up his images through rhythmic brushstrokes. I love the fact that a painting can be read in so many different ways. Ultimately, it comes down to what you bring to it.