This quote illustrates the fact that as an adult, Picasso lead a busy and involved life in the heart of the painting and literary world in Paris. In his Parisian studio he entertained and socialised with contemporary artists such as Georges Braque, Henri Matisse and Apollinaire. He also had a working relationship with Gertrude Stein, an up and coming American writer and art supporter. She and her husband Leo her weekly "salons" in their home to promote Picasso's works.
And at the same time, he was introducing some very new concepts into the painting world. He not only painted, he produced great sculptures, interesting mosaics and even dabbled in printmaking and collages. He was an enthusiastic all-rounder in every medium he touched. However his greatest legacy is that of the art form known as "Cubism" which he invented together with fellow painter Georges Braque. To this end he painted one of his most famous works "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" as his 'entree' into the new style of Cubism.
Cubism is just what the name says - everything depicted or shaped like a cube. For Picasso it meant producing art that gave one an all-round perspective of the subject. If you look at " Les demoiselles d'Avignon", painted in 1907, Picasso was heading more and more towards abstract forms. By making the faces geometrically shaped, he shows he was influenced by African art which started appearing in the early twentieth century - the mask-like faces are typical of West African tribal art. Sometimes this is called Picasso's "African Period", "Blue Period" or "Black Period".
An Impressionist painter, Henri Matisse created a painting entitled 'Blue Nude' in 1907, the same year as Picasso's "Les demoiselles d'Avignon'. Reporter Charlie Finch printed a comment from Picasso in his New Yorker review of Matisse's exhibition. Picasso said that Matisse could
"either paint a nude or do a design, he can't do both". Matisse conceived the idea of The 'Blue Nude ' after a sculptor he was working on shattered. Do we detect a bit of jealousy in Picasso's tone?! Maybe, because this set him on the course to creating "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon'.
Looking at 'Les demoiselles d'Avignon', you will notice that the faces of three of the women on the far left of the painting have an Iberian slant to them. This is because an acquaintance of Picasso's had stolen some Iberian sculptures from the Louvre and these are said to have influenced the look of the 'demoiselles'. And because Picasso was an avid collector of African art, the other two women have a definite African look to them. He was determined to give this picture an interesting composition! Although it was painted in 1907, it was not shown to the public until 1916 as it was thought that the theme of 'loose women' would not be received too well. This painting was seen as the flagship of Cubism for a long time, but critics are now referring to it as belonging to a transitional phase in Picasso's development as a painter.
If we move on to the painting 'Guernica' painted in 1937, 30 years later and compare the style with 'Les demoiselles d'Avignon', there is no doubt that Picasso's work has become far more modernistic and is made up of shapes formed into animal or human faces. There are also geometrical shapes and different tomes of black and white throughout the picture giving it a sinister feeling. You also feel that the painting in not real. Picasso painted this in response to his anger over the Spanish Civil War, and in fact, you can feel his agony in the way the objects are separated and delineated. However, art critics are still discussing the artistic merits or demerits of the work as a painting!
After "Les demoiselles d'Avignon", Picasso came across Surrealism in the mid-1920s. He never embraced this style fully but it gave him a new form of expressionism after the strict outlines of Cubism. Towards the end of the 1920s, Picasso was painting more in the classical style than any other. He painted erotic pictures of his mistress Marie-Therese Walter, but was also able to create the stark, cold portrayal of the war in his mind in "Guernica".
So, 'Guernica" differs from "Les demoiselles d'Avignon" in a number of ways. Guernica was making a statement about the war - the agony and destruction of human life, while in :"Les" life appeared to be easier. There was no war on sand people were content, but this picture reflects the 'seedier' side of life. Here Picasso is using African and Spanish influences in a very simple manner. In the 30 years between the two paintings, Picasso went through many different styles and manners of painting. His later career would lead him more in the direction of Symbolism and Surrealism.
Picasso led a very full and popular life. He had many relationships with woman which were reflected in a lot of his works. He had a great charismatic personality which saw him in good stead with many influential celebrities. He invented 'collage' which nowadays all the modern kids turn into a collage of photos with Photoshop! But he used collage as a way of arranging figures and objects. He no longer saw a picture as a window into the world.
As far as close friendships go, he and Henri Matisse sparred with each other over the years. They mocked each other's work, tried to better each other's work and developed a friendly kind of bantering relationship with which they were actually both very comfortable. Picasso was a modern artist and a celebrity whereas Matisse was almost a recluse. In Matisse and Picasso: The Story of their Rivalry and Friendship by Jack Flam, Picasso used to drive over to Matisse to show him his work. Picasso said, "Everything considered, there is only Matisse,” ”Only one person has the right to criticize me,” Matisse responded. Picasso's influence over world art has been immense. All the styles he went through and made his own live on today. His legacy of Cubism reached further into making all sorts of devices and pictorial approaches which are still important today. And lastly, the Museum of Modern Art in New York has been called "the house that Pablo built." What more can I say about the styles of Pablo Picasso - he came, he saw and boy did he conquer!
References
Stoner, Barry & Duroux, Susanne, 1999. The Treasures of the World. USA. Stoner Productions Inc.
Finch, Charlie, 2010. Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917. July 18-Oct. 11 2010. The Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10019
McMahan, S. 2011. Picasso's Influences. Masterworks Fine Art Gallery. Retrieved from
McMahan, S. 2011. Matisse and Picasso: A Respectful Rivalry. Masterworks Fine Art Gallery. Retrieved from
http://www.masterworksfineart.com/blog/2011/05/04/matisse-and-picasso-a-respectful-rivalry-2/
Picasso.com. New Jersey. USA. Picasso Exhibitions: Picasso Erotioque. Retrieved from
http://www.picasso.com/life.aspx
Rosenberg, B. 2012. Pablo Picasso:Life and Art Periods. The Art Story Foundation.
