Pablo Picasso

Pablo Ruiz Picasso (born October, 1881 - died April, 1973) is considered by many to be the most important figure in 20^th Century art. During his lifetime Picasso created over 22,000 works of art using a variety of mediums including sculpture, ceramic, mosaics and graphic arts.

Time magazine art critic Robert Hughes said of Picasso “Before his 50^th birthday…, (Picasso) had become the very prototype of the modern artist as public figure. There was scarcely a 20^th century movement that he didn’t inspire, contribute to – or in the case of Cubism…, beget.” Picasso’s works of art are usually attributed to several overlapping periods, such as the “Blue Period”, the “Rose Period”, the “African Influenced Period”, Cubism, and Surrealism.

The beginning of Picasso’s famous “Blue Period” is believed to have started after Picasso found out about the suicide of his close friend, Carlos Casagemas, in 1901 and lasted until 1904. This period received its name because of Picasso’s use of only blue or blue-green colors, although he did infrequently incorporate other, warmer colors into some of his paintings. The work Evocation – the burial of Casagemas was chosen as the painting to represent this time period because of the importance of Casagemas’ death on Picasso. In the painting you can see the funeral for Casagemas in the lower half, while the upper half could be seen as Picasso’s view of heaven.

Although the painting is composed of almost entirely blue colors Picasso still uses the shades effectively in portraying the mood. Notice the use of bright, aqua blue in the heaven portion of the painting. Although no expressions are detailed on the on-looker’s faces their body language portrays the mourning in the death portion. This painting is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, France.

The “Rose Period” (1905 – 1906) shows use of a lighter palette, giving a more cheerful tone, and works were often of circus life. His circus theme is primarily attributed to his frequent visits to Cirque Médrano near his studio. “La Toilette” represents a distinct style of Picasso during his Rose period in which he painted large male and female figures with distinct profiles, often compared to early Greek art. It is regarded as one of the best paintings by Picasso done in the particular style.

This piece was chosen because of its representation as the transition point from the blue period to the rose period. The girl on the right, dressed in blue, is holding the mirror towards the nude woman painted in flesh tones, typical of the rose period. This seems to represent the focus of attention from the gloomy blue period onto the brighter rose period. The painting has clear symmetry of the figures about the center. The background is also very basic, with a singe horizontal line separating the ground and sky. This painting is currently on display at the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, NY.

He also began producing engravings and sculpture during these years. Cubism was created through collaboration between Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in 1907. Cubism was an innovative style of art that Picasso would become renowned for. The fundamental idea around Cubism was showing different views of the subject all in one picture. There are two main types of Cubism, Analytical and Symmetrical, where Analytical Cubism was more conceptual and Symmetric Cubism was more visual. Picasso’s first painting in this style was “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” in 1907.

“Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” was chosen for its significance in the creation of Cubism and modern abstract art. Cubism can be seen in various places such as in the bottom right corner where a woman is clearly facing with here back to the viewer but her head is seen from the opposite view. This also explains the noses of a couple of the women painted in a profile view while they are facing the viewer as done in many cubism paintings. This panting not only represents Picasso’s cubism period but also his concentration on sexual free thinking, which would appear in his paintings throughout his lifetime, as evident in each one of the paintings shown here.

In his later years, Picasso created works of comic invention and fantasy. He produced thousands of drawings, illustrations and stage designs as well as works in sculpture and ceramic. Picasso also painted variations on the works of other masters, such as “Las Meninas”. He continued works of Cubism until his death in 1973.

Pablo Picasso was definitely one of the most influential painters who ever lived. He defined his own unique style of painting and influenced other styles of the 20th century. His paintings can be easily recognized and identified for the particular period in which it was painted. Picasso has become a household name and defines paintings that are regarded as priceless in their contribution to the innovative world of art.