lecture 7 part 3

Introduction to Cubism

• Cubism is one of the most influential art movements of the twentieth century.

• Its impact continues to influence artists today, making it vital to understand in art history.

Pablo Picasso's Early Years

• Picasso faced financial challenges even during his Rose Period.

• His situation improved due to recognition from art critics, dealers, and collectors.

• Notable collectors included Gertrude Stein and her brother Leo Stein, who moved to Paris in 1903.

Gertrude and Leo Stein

• Gertrude Stein was also a writer and developed a significant contemporary art collection in Paris.

• They introduced Picasso to Henri Matisse in 1906, expanding his artistic influences.

• Gertrude's support led Picasso to create a portrait of her between 1906 and 1907.

Gertrude Stein Portrait 1906-1907

• Picasso's Portrait of Gertrude Stein represents his shift in artistic style.

• Inspired by ancient Iberian sculpture and primitive cultures, the artwork remains unfinished.

• He attempted to capture Gertrude’s forceful and vivacious personality through his depiction.

Artistic Techniques

• Gertrude is presented in an unconventional way: wearing a smoking jacket and with a relaxed posture.

• This reflects Picasso's new approach in representing the human form.

Influences from Iberian Sculpture

Ibearian Female head ca 300 bce

• Picasso’s interest in Iberian sculptures was sparked by an exhibition at the Louvre in 1906.

• These sculptures had connections to his own cultural background, being excavated near his hometown in Spain.

• The inspiration led him to simplify forms and experiment with planar structures in his art.

Influences from Gauguin

• In 1906, Picasso viewed a retrospective of Gauguin, which included his sculptural works.

• Gauguin's technique of blending non-Western and ancient art influenced Picasso’s own work.

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon 1907

• Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) is one of Picasso's most important works, breaking traditional artistic conventions.

• It deconstructed pictorial form while exploring the representation of the female nude in the early twentieth century.

Evolution of the Composition

• Initial sketches showed a med student, sailor, and the symbolic representation of mortality through a skull.

• Picasso's fears regarding diseases linked to sex workers reveal a misogynistic undertone in his perspective toward women.

• Over time, he altered the women’s depictions to confront the viewer directly, creating a compressed space with jagged, fractured planes.

Intertwining African Art Influences

• In 1907, Picasso’s exposure to African art significantly shaped his style during the creation of Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.

• He drew from African masks and sculptures, evident in the angular, energetic depictions of the female figures.

• This work combined various influences, including both Iberian and African art cultures.

Movement and Space in Picasso's Work

• Les Demoiselles d'Avignon presents figures with ambiguous shapes and movement.

• Picasso blended traditional elements like drapery with radical representations of form.

• The tension between three-dimensional representation and two-dimensional design is a defining factor in Picasso's style.

Conclusion

• Picasso's exploration in Les Demoiselles d'Avignon transcends traditional art, incorporating ideas of space, time, and movement.

• His artistic dialogue with past styles demonstrates a complex relationship with art history while innovating within the medium.