Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain in 1881. He is one of the greatest and most influential artists of 20 th century. He’s known as the co-creator of Cubism. He’s a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmakers, ceramicist and stage designer. Picasso was considered radical in his work. Nearly 80 of his 91 years, Picasso has devoted himself to an artistic production and contributed significantly to the development of modern art in the 20 th century.
This piece of work is titled “ Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”, in English means The Young Women of Avignon.” It depicts five nude prostitutes from a brothel on Carrer Avinyó in Barcelona . It’s kind of wild and aggressive. There are three naked women on the left side. Two women on the right side of the painting wear mask. The one wearing the mask in the back is drawing the curtain. The other one is sitting on the curtain facing the audiences. In the middle of the bottom, some fruits are being placed there. Brown incorporates with blue, two tones contrast and create a strong sexual anxiety. These five female prostitutes are depicted in a narrow space. They are placing in a splintered plane, which create a geometric view. The whole painting is vivid and feels real in any point of view.
This painting is real large, so it’s easy to catch an eye on. The reason why I chose this painting is because I have known this painting since I was 10 years old. I first encountered it in my art class. It kind of made me feel shame and I didn’t dare to see it, as I was too young by that time. But it did leave a deep impression in my mind. Now when I encountered it again, as an adult, I became more comfortable with the content. And I was seeing it in an artist way. Everything in my eyes is full with the talent of the artist and was astonished by the creativity of Picasso.
As I mention before that Picasso is the co-creator of cubism. By definition, cubism means it’s a point of view. Cubism art will give audience a different view form any direction. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is a break from traditional history of linear art. In Renainssance, artists tend to use perspective. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon innovates abstract form. It creates a new way to see the world. Art could be depicted in a geometric view. This work has lead to a successive art movement toward abstract form.
My question regarding this art is that how Picasso paint this piece of art and make it have a geometric view?
http://www.theartstory.org/movement-cubism.htm
When looking at this painting I also wondered why it Picasso made this painting have an amazing geometric view as well.
I also saw this artwork in the museum, and when I first looked at this artwork, I feel it was hard to understand the message the artist try to express in the artwork. But I notice that the artist draws this artwork in a very geometric and angled way, and which makes the artwork looks so different than other artworks.
Hua,
I love that you chose a painting that you remember seeing when you were so much younger! It is great to be able to return to a work with different eyes and notice how our own viewing habits have changes. When Picasso first exhibited this work, it was considered very shocking in its representation of female sexuality. Picasso was by no means a feminist (!), but he did want in this painting to show the prostitutes as being proud and in charge of their own bodies. You are right to focus your attention on the geometry of the painting. We can see here how breaking the human figure up into geometric shapes and planes paves the way for increasing abstraction in the twentieth century! Nice work!