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| Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) |
Pablo Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) is most recognized artist in the 20th century. Picasso was a painter, sculptor, ceramicist, and stage designer. In almost all my college classes in art school, Picasso was mentioned in every medium. I almost got sick of hearing his name over and over. Picasso did this and did that. His was a Guru on everything he touched!! Picasso was involved in many art movements such as, Rose Period, Blue Period, African-influenced Period, Surrealism and Cubism to mention a few. I respect him as an artist because I am an artist myself. However, there are plenty of other famous and non-famous artists that are out there that influenced a lot of art movements. Why the big thing with Picasso? Was it that everything he touched turned into an art movement? Was it just because of his popularity? I think it’s all of the above.
I personally don’t like his vain nature about his art. I remember watching a video on him and how he was so sure of himself as an artist. In knowing this, he knew that everything he created would be noticed and valued. I read that Picasso is most expensive art work that anyone can own, being from his drawings to his sculpture work. I have to say, I do like his work but not the artist himself. My favorite movements of his are the African-Influenced with the painting of “Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907), Museum of Modern Art, New York “ Surrealism “Guernica, 1937, Museo Reina Sofia” and Cubism (Synthetic Cubism) “Three Musicians (1921), Museum of Modern Art”. All three of these paintings are very similar in their style and someone would say that it is cubism. I have always liked Surrealism and cubism, especially when they are used together. The difference between surrealism and Cubism: Surrealism is usually associated with dreams or unconscious images put into a real life scenery as for Cubism is more of a 3-Dimensional perspective put onto a 2-dimensional surface. For instance, Marcel Duchamp “Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 “ (1912) shows a nude descending a staircase from all sides of the nude on a two-dimensional view and the painting shows so much movement that it is captivating.
So, why cubism? Well, I have to say that once you have created art in a 3-dimensional way as in sculpture or ceramics it does influence in how you create art on a 2-dimensional surface as in drawings or paintings. It gives the artist as view from all sides and expands your vision or creativity in a good way. I noticed the more I work on 3-dimensions that my paintings and drawings are more improved. I also noticed, that the more I paint, my drawings are much better. This astonishes me because I don’t why that is, both are 2-dimensions. Although, I can see why Picasso was so famous for his paintings because he saw things in a 3-dimension way and used his vision on his art to represent that.
Therefore, Picasso will always be famous for everything he did in the art world. We can only be so lucky to be such big influences in the 21st century. Maybe someday, we can create a own art movement that will influence many artists around the world.
