Created in 1907, Pablo Picasso paints the nude bodies of five woman prostitutes. His early years in Spain were filled with curiosity and exploration with art rather than limiting himself to the traditional art of Spain. Picasso’s intricate relationship with love and sexuality were often expressed through his creations which were nothing short of his erotic styled paintings. He titles this piece, “Avignon,” after a street in Barcelona that was widely known for prostitution.
Picasso met Fernande Olivier in 1904 where she worked as a model for a few artists. Shortly after meeting Olivier, Picasso began the Rose Era which in comparison to the Blue Era was filled with bright shades of yellows and pinks. Picasso’s time with Oliver was also a time of success since his work began to gain recognition and allowed him to meet other artists. Although Oliver was featured in many of his Rose Era paintings and often sparked his creativity for his work, their seven year relationship was filled with jealousy and would ultimately become violent.
In the year 1900, Picasso moved to Paris with a friend by the name of Carlos Casagemas. Casagemas, a failed artist, meets a woman and begins a quite difficult and straining relationship that quickly becomes violent once he aims to kill the woman he loves but misses. Consumed by guilt and desperation Casagemas takes his own life after the woman escapes and becomes Picasso’s inspiration behind his pieces of his Blue Era. The Blue Era being a period filled with pieces that contain more or less the same features of dark blue and green shades that usually go to represent despair Picasso has once faced. There are many depictions and interpretations of “La Vie,” but the most familiar take would be that the nude pair to the left of the painting is indeed Casagemas and the woman he loved while the woman carrying the child that he points to represents the possibility of their future together.
Picasso began his affair sometime between the years 1911 and 1915, with a woman he named Eva. His new style of art known as cubism, becomes prominent in his work during his years with Eva, which explains why there aren’t any traditional portraits of her to be found. Paintings of Eva were created in his cubist style of dark shades and disoriented shapes. “Ma Jolie” or, “my pretty one,” being one of Picasso’s most famous creations, touches base with the concept of cubism due to its abstraction and decomposition of Evas body in shapes. Unfortunately, by the year 1915, Picasso suffered the loss of Eva after she died of cancer but instead of creating another Blue Era, he continued to pursue his cubist art as well as other women.
Olga Khokhlova became the first woman to marry Picasso and have children in 1918. She pursued ballet and connected with Picasso during a performance since he designed the costumes. Olga inspired Picasso to fulfill the traditional classical style art instead of his usual geometric style due to a decline in acceptance of his work. “Olga in an Armchair,” captures a realistic portrait of Olga herself. It appears as though the background might now have been finished but assures the main focus of the overall piece. It’s been said that couples’ relationships balanced on rocks and often clashed due to different mindsets and ways of living resulting in a split between the pair.
Picasso begins an affair with Marie-Thérèse Walter during his marriage with Olga. After Olga finds out she demands a divorce but Picasso refuses to grant her wish due to court laws so the pair stay married but continue on separately. Marie goes onto having Picassos second child and provided a great influence to pursue his erotic styled art once again. “Le Rève” appears to be a more simplistic painting with a bold color palette which portrays a sensual feel to its audience. The creations inspired by Marie give insight on their intimate and pleasurable relationship, all which seems to intrigue Picasso.
The painting of “The Weeping Woman” conveys nothing short of pain and disparity. Another one of Picasso’s muses by the name of Dora often spoke to him on a comfortable level enough to discuss real world problems. She enlightened his political awareness and shared concerns that were more raw and real. Picasso even states that Dora has brought upon a version of herself that he’s only views as sad and emotionally painful therefore portraying his paintings of her with some form of torture. The painting also plays an even bigger role as a silent protest and anti war mural towards the bombing of Guernica.
Picasso meets Jacqueline Rogue in 1953 and becomes his second wife after Olga passes away. During their nearly twenty years together, Picasso painted over four hundred portraits of Jacqueline, making her the most featured woman of his art. The portrait of, “Jacqueline with Flowers,” took place during a rather tranquil period of Picasso’s life and work where he utilizes a combination of patterns and a sign of delicacy that signifies a new chapter. Jacqueline’s beauty becomes apparent in this portrait as Picasso never failed to incorporate a Mediterranean type of beauty in her face as well as the fancy position of her figure. Their peaceful time together comes to an end when Picasso died in the year 1973 with Jacqueline following shortly after once she becomes consumed with sadness of her lover’s death.
