Pablo PicassoPablo Picassso was probably the most famous artist of the twentieth century. During his artistic career he created a large body of work that consisted of sculptures, prints and ceramics, while experimenting with several different materials. Today Picasso is known as one the forefathers of the artistic movement known as Cubism.
Pablo Picasso was born on October twenty-fifth 1881, in Malaga, Spain, to Jose Ruiz and Maria Picasso. Rather than adopt the common name of his father, Picasso took the more unique last name of his mother as his own. “An artistic prodigy, Picasso at the age of fourteen, completed the one month qualifying examination of the Academy of Fine Arts in Barcelona in one day. ” as stated by ( ). From there he went to the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, returning to Barcelona in 1900. goes on to state that,” Picasso attended one of the cities most famous cabarets of intellectuals and artist, El Quatre Gats.
” ( ). During the year of 1901 until 1904, Picasso went through what is now regarded as his “Blue Period”. Picasso Became fascinated with unique characters as his subject manner. He began to paint images that were full of anger and sorrow.
Some believe that Picasso was experiencing an early mid-life crisis because of the content of his work. All that changed in 1905, when Picasso began to paint in a more colorful manner. He became intrigued by the lifestyle of traveling circus acts. He started to paint in mid tone colors like pinks and grays, often compliment by placing them next to brighter colors within a composition.
This change in Picasso’s work became known as his ” Rose Period” as stated by ( ). Picasso went on to meet George Braque, whom is also regarded as one of the forefathers of the Cubist movement. During this period in his artistic career, Picasso created the portrait of Manuel Pallares. To create this work of art Picasso chose to use oil as his medium of choice. What is so fascinating about the painting is his application of the medium.
Picasso uses the brush and or palette knife to create a cross hatch effect throughout the painting. Picasso chose to use neutral tones to describe the mood of the painting. The figure of Manuel Pallares is shown in a three-quarters view within the composition. The deliberate positioning of the figure leads the viewer to believe that Manuel was not someone of importance.
His wardrobe also lets the viewer know that he is an average person. Picasso’s treatment of the details is very representational of the Cubist style. Sharp lines and a vast array of contrasting shapes and colors emphasize the creases of the suit jacket. This same attention to detail is present in the mustache and the background as well.
On the other hand, Picasso’s treatment of the Manuel’s face is quite different. Picasso uses softer shapes to fine the attitude of Manuel. The blandness of the face leads one to assume that Manuel was a man of peace in a world of chaos. The background also suggests that he is a man that is completely involved with his own existence.
There are no visible signs of a realistic environment around the figure at all. Which may suggest that this character or persona is completely ficticous in nature. I feel that this painting is a good of example of Picasso’s love for unique methods of expressing himself as well as the life and times of the everyday man. In the 1950’s Picasso began to hold several exhibits containing some of his greatest works.
During this point in his life and career he began to create a series of old master interpretation works that were conceived as variations of old methods. Picasso continued to produce unique art all they way throughth 1960’s and the 1970’s, one of those works was a fifty foot sculpture that he donated to the Chicago Civic Center. Picasso died on April 8, 1973 in Mougins, France at the age of 91. The influence of Picasso is alive and well in today’s artistic society.
