Pablo Picasso — The Father of Cubist Art
A quick look at some of Picasso’s greatest works
Introduction:
Pablo Picasso is one of the greatest artists throughout history. Unlike many artists who died in abject poverty during their lifetimes, Picasso was extremely wealthy, with experts estimating his net worth to be in the billions. Picasso produced an astonishing range of art styles and is responsible for creating Cubism alongside fellow artist George Braque. Below is a quick excerpt from Picasso’s conversation from the journal The Arts, which will provide insights into Cubism as a movement and the underlying principles behind Picasso’s work.
“Cubism is no different from any other school of painting. The same principles and the same elements are common to all… Many think that Cubism is an art of transition, an experiment which is to bring ulterior results… Cubism is not either a seed or a foetus, but an art dealing primarily with forms, and when a form is realized it is there it lives its own life… Cubism has kept itself within the limits and limitations of painting, never pretending to go beyond it… Our subjects might be different, as we have been introduced into painting, objects and forms that were formerly ignored… In our subjects, we keep the joy of discovery, the pleasure of the unexpected; out subject itself must be a source of interest.”
For the rest of the article, we will explore five of Picasso’s greatest works throughout his lifetime!
Art Piece #1 Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907)
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon revolutionalized the art world and is perhaps the most famous Cubism painting out there. In the painting, Picasso deterred from traditional art by distorting the female bodies and utilizing geometric forms. A new idealized representation of female beauty is put forwards. This painting is a perfect example of the ingenuity of Picasso as a world class artist.
Art Piece #2 Maquette for Guitar (1912)
Unlike the first painting, the sculpture Guitar features cardboards, strings, and wires. Here, Picasso presented a cutaway view of a guitar, and challenges the viewer to think about the intersection of two and three dimensionality. Cubism as a movement is not only revolutionary for two-dimensional surfaces, but also continues to inspire new approaches to sculptures and other artistic mediums.
Art Piece #3 Still Life with Chair-Caning (1912)
Yet another innovative work, Still Life with Chair-Caning includes a piece of oilcloth imprinted with the photolithographed pattern of a cane chair seat. Also worth noting is a rope that frames the artwork as well as the seemingly chaotic organizations of objects that aims to challenge the viewer’s understanding of reality.
Art Piece #4 Guernica (1937)
The oil on canvas Guernica features prime Cubism techniques such as the fragmentation of objects and the dislocation of anatomical features. The painting was created in light of the Nazi bombing of the Basque capital as Picasso is condemning the Nazis for their violent actions.
Art Piece #5 The Weeping Woman (1937)
The Weeping Woman by Picasso is a thematic continuation of the previous painting (Art Piece #3 Guernica). This painting tells the tale of a woman crying in the era of the Spanish Civil War, as the theme of universal suffering is emphasized. The fragmented compositions and the emotional nature of the painting challenge the viewers to think about the atrocities of war. Interestingly, the model for the painting was Picasso’s partner Dora Maar.
Sources:
Gardner, H., & Kleiner, F. S. (2016). Gardner’s Art through the ages: A global history (Fifteenth edition, Student edition. ed.). Cengage Learning.
Pablo Picasso: 150 Famous Paintings, Bio & Quotes by Picasso
10 Facts You Don’t Know About Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (pablopicasso.org)
The Weeping Woman, 1937 by Pablo Picasso
