Title: Self-Portrait, 1907 – Pablo Picasso. The artwork is a reflection of Picasso’s mental health and image. It demonstrates losing touch with reality and yourself, which is what Picasso was going through as he aged. I believe the art piece can be interpreted at face value and more. It has a lot of undertones, especially if you take a look at Picasso’s earlier portraits. Each portrait slowly became more unrealistic and distorted. In the 18th century, no one understood mental health, thus Picasso was not able to get the health he needed.
There was more mental health awareness at all back then, people who didn’t act ”normal” were just called crazy and pushed aside. Many people were sent to asylums or received some inhumane form of therapy. This art piece is about a brilliant man who never got help. This art piece has always spoken to me, more than the later portraits. At face value, it’s just an unfinished portrait of Picasso. Furthermore, this portrait to me is the start of the downfall for Picasso. This artist’s artwork attempts to expose the truth about the lack of mental health awareness in the 1900s.
This is really interesting. I had no idea this piece was a reflection of his mental health.
Great. It would be helpful to think of your paper topic as “history of representations of mental illness in visual art,” using this Picasso piece as a cornerstone for your analysis.
Wow just by looking at the art I was not able to see all that but after I read your explanation, I want to know more. I love that you are going to be writing about this! Can’t wait to read it!
If I saw this art I wouldn’t have not know anything about what’s it trying to say to the audience. But how you explained it to us I see it much differently now. Your paper already looks interesting to read with the art that you have picked.