Tuesday, September 8, 2009

a Few of My Favourite Things

Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Lauded as one of the most Modern works of art ever created, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon; or in english, The Whores of Avignon; painted by Picasso, the most modern of painters at his creative peak just on the edge of his Rose period only a short time prior to his popularization of Cubism; is in fact one of Picasso's most classical of works. While the focus is usually placed on the Horrorshow / Fragmented portrayal of the women; I think the real wonder is in it's classicism. Picasso pillages everyone from Holbien to Da Vinci to Rembrandt with this piece and gives all of them the kiss off while he simultaneously praises his influences and kick starts the 20th century at the exact same time. Ever since this painting everyone from Warhol to Mapplethorpe to Catherine Opie have studied how Picasso referenced the classics while at the same time taking the piss out of the establishment. Look at the composition, Haptic framing, direct eye contact with the viewer, the use of light to erase depth as opposed to create it. With the first two he creates an homage to everything that came before him and with last he abandons that with which he is so enamored. This painting is a master class in how to be the greatest painter of your particular era being taught by one of the greatest of any era.

1 comment:

  1. how is the painter teaching the big P in your article... I missed that and isn't Avignon the french town that was Papal headquarter, I don't think of the area having a red light district

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