The pool of Tuileries 1901

Pablo Picasso painted 'The Pool of Tuileries' using oil on canvas, sometime during his long career. Look at those greens, yellows and reds, and you can almost feel the sun of the south of France. I like to imagine Picasso outside, squinting in the sunlight, trying to find a way to capture the scene in front of him, children sailing toy boats on a pond, minding their own business, as children do. His application of paint looks fast, gestural, as if he were trying to capture a fleeting moment. There's something raw and immediate about it. This piece feels like it could be placed within the wider context of Impressionism. You see the way he is playing with light and color, building form through dabs of paint rather than clear lines and shapes. It reminds me of Monet. And yet, somehow, it’s totally Picasso! It's like they are all in conversation with one another. And then, we all join in. That's the magic of painting!