Three Nudes and a Basin of Anemones (Trois femmes nues et une coupe d'anémones) 1933

Pablo Picasso sketched 'Three Nudes and a Basin of Anemones' with simple lines onto paper. You can almost see his hand moving, quickly capturing the essence of form. It’s like watching a dance, isn't it? Picasso probably started with a vague idea, letting the shapes emerge as he went. You can see how the artist is working out the idea in the making of the work itself, thinking through his wrist. I imagine Picasso thinking about the Old Masters—the nudes of Rembrandt or Rubens. The challenge is to translate that history into something new. Notice the line that defines the contours of the women's bodies. It seems to be searching, almost uncertain, feeling its way around each curve. The surface of the paper allows the marks to float, creating space for our own interpretation. It is a reminder that art is often more about the questions we ask than the answers we find.