Picasso Biography

Pablo Picasso is viewed as one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century both in terms of individual contributions and overall impact on the world of art. Moreover, Picasso was a prolific artist who enjoyed a long life span, passing away at the age of 91. This Spaniard was a versatile artist working in various media including ventures in paint, sculpture, print work, and writing. He would, however, garner the most acclaim as a painter. Perhaps Picasso’s most famous works, or those for which he won the most critical acclaim, are from the genres of the Cubist and papiers colles (McQuillan N.p.). Through his body of work Picasso would challenge the contemporary notations of art and further expand upon avant garde styles. A prime example of is his extension of the Cubist movement into both “synthetic” and “analytic” Cubism (Langton N.p.). His penchant for challenging boundaries would also manifest in his combining the conventional materials such as oil and paint with sand or sawdust. These concepts will be more fully explored later in this paper.

As widely studied, Picasso’s artistic life would evolve through several “periods.” Most of these periods were influenced by events in his life and were named for the colors that dominated his works at the time. While his life may be viewed episodically, this paper will focus on three pieces and the contextual period from which each arose. The first work to be examined will be “Self-portrait” from the Blue Period, next will be “Guitar” and the conclusion will culminate with “Woman with Guitar”. By reviewing such a diverse set of works, a greater understanding of the depth of this artist can be reached.

The period of 1901 to 1904 is known as the Blue Period and featured such work as “Self-portrait”. Self-portrait was one of the earliest works at the beginning of this particular period. The gist of his work during the Blue Period focused on “…outcasts, beggars and invalided prostitutes” (McQuillan N.p.). By using the cool, somber blue colors, he was able to further draw the audience into the melancholy of these featured groups. Perhaps the genesis of this period can be traced to the suicide of Carlos Casagemas, which seemed to have affected Picasso greatly. During time period, Picasso made his home during this time in both Spain and France (Langton N.p.).

Another important event that transpired was the production of his first collage in May 1912. This new genre of painting featured “… [a] painting or drawing that incorporates pre-existing materials or objects as part of the surface” (McQuillan N.p). As previously mentioned, one of Picasso’s more famous works was in this medium as represented by the Guitar. By incorporating various printed materials, such as newspapers, Picasso added a dimension of symbolism to his art. As Melissa McQuillan would succinctly state, “His invention of this radical new sculptural form was to have enormous repercussions..for his own later work…but also for later developments in modern sculpture” (N.p.).

Around 1911, Picasso began a relationship with Eva Gouel. This relationship would cause Picasso to take his art on a bit of tangent. Rather than producing portraits of Gouel, Picasso would work the words “ma jolie” into the piece – as an homage to his then current love interest. The term was borrowed from a popular song of the day. “Woman with Guitar” would be a prime example of this particularly period of his life and this particular convention (McQuillan N.p.).


Works Cited
Florman, Lisa. "Picasso, Pablo." Encyclopedia of Aesthetics. Ed. Michael Kelly. Oxford Art Online. N.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2010
Langton, John. "Picasso, Pablo." The Oxford Companion to Western Art. Ed. Hugh Brigstocke. Oxford Art Online. N.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2010
McQuillan, Melissa. "Picasso, Pablo." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. N.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2010