Head of crying woman 1937

This is Picasso's "Head of a Crying Woman" and it is made using pencil. You can really feel the force of his hand moving across the paper. I mean, think about the making of this image. It's all jagged lines, like a broken mirror reflecting a soul in turmoil. Picasso’s hatching feels like raw emotion spilling onto the page, scratching, and clawing with the pencil. It is all angles and sharp points. The eyes are strange and distorted, ringed by what looks like exploding fireworks – or maybe tears. The mouth hangs open in a silent scream. He's not just showing us a face, he is showing us a feeling. It's not a pretty picture, but it is powerful, raw and honest. You can feel her grief, and you can feel Picasso trying to capture it. He almost seems to be conversing with painters like Francis Bacon here... But ultimately, it is Picasso's language, a continuation of an ongoing discussion between artists across time.