The Italian woman with a flower 1917

"The Italian Woman with a Flower" was made by Pablo Picasso using an unknown medium, but it looks like a type of thin wash. With the pencil lines underneath, it’s like we're getting a peek into Picasso’s process. The watercolour is so delicate, see how the paper almost glows through the washes of colour? The blue of her scarf isn't just blue, it's like a breath of air against the creamy white of her dress. And then there's that touch of pink on her cheeks, mirrored by the two stains just above her head, which are like playful echoes. It makes you wonder, was it intentional? Take a look at the lines describing her hand holding the flower, so tentative and light, they speak to a fleeting moment, an impression more than a statement. It reminds me a little of Manet, in the way he captures the essence of a subject with such economy. Ultimately, art is about embracing the unfinished, the questions that linger long after the paint is dry.