Pablo Picasso Mirror

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Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter who was one of the founding fathers who introduced the world to Cubism. Cubism is a form of painting that features simple geometric shapes. His work was always bold and abstract. The idea of Cubism is to take an object and break it down into smaller pieces to re-create different shapes representing different perspectives and ideas at the same time. One cannot look at his artwork and not feel the need to analyze it. Picasso painted the now famous Girl Before a Mirror in March 1932. So, who exactly was the girl before the mirror and why are we able to relate to this painting? In 1927 Picasso met a seventeen-year-old French girl name Marie-Therese Walter. For eight years, he lived a double life of having Marie-Therese …show more content…

Firstly, the woman before the mirror and her reflection’s skin complexion is prominently different. While Marie-Therese’s skin color is fair with a pink tone, her reflection shows a pale and dull skin tone. Furthermore, while looking at the left side of Marie’s profile, her face is fresh, angelic, and pure. Her blonde hair is soft and appears to have a white silhouette or a halo around her head which is also a metaphor of her innocence. Adjacent to her innocent appearance is a polished-face. Such face is dapped with a bright yellow painted color. The yellow color is a representation of the energy and strength she has. Emerging from that lively color is a bright and rosy red cheek with cheerful red lips that compliments the rest of her face. This side of her shows a more mature woman. A woman who is optimistic and eager to take on life. Perhaps, each side suggests her coming of age. Her innocence transitioning to a developed woman entering the world. On the other hand, her reflection on the mirror shows a sad, subdued, and somber side of the woman. Her long arm stretching out in front of the mirror wanting to touch that sad and darkened face. Her face is painted in dark, charcoal colors to illustrate the gloomy life she is experiencing and that of the life ahead of her. A solitary tear seemingly trickles down her cheek from a deep darkened eye. Walter is no longer that vibrant and beautiful girl, but that of

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