Pablo Picassos Bequest of Gertrude

Pablo Picassos Bequest of Gertrude

Pablo Picasso was a very famous artist in his time. I have always found his work very interesting and unique. He has a style all his own and, I believe that this was what made him so famous and at the same time controversial. The painting I have chosen is called “Gertrude”.

Pablo Picasso was born in Spain to Jose Ruiz and Maria Picasso. He later adopted his mother’s more distinguished maiden name Picasso. Picasso was a child prodigy who was recognized as such by his art-teacher father who ably led him along. Picasso was taught for a few years and after he attended the Academy of fine art in Curna Spain where his father taught. Picasso’s early drawings such as, Study of A Torso, After A Plaster Cast (1894-1895 Musee Picasso, Paris, France) demonstrates the high level of technical proficiency he had accomplished by the age of 14 years old. (Encarta 2000) Picasso’s artwork is classified as modern art witch started in the early 1880’s to the mid 1970’s.

In 1885 his family moved to Barcelona, Spain after his father obtained a teaching post at that city’s academy of fine Arts. Picasso was admitted to advanced classes in the academy after he completed in a single day the entrance examination that applicants were traditionally given a month to complete. In 1897 Picasso left Barcelona to further his study at the San Fernando academy in Madrid witch was located in the Spanish capital. His academic studies did not last long in Madrid. He was unhappy with the training he was receiving and he left and returned back to his home in Barcelona Spain.

Picasso visited Paris some time around the early 1900’s. After that visit he decided that he would move back and fourth between Spain and Paris. He did this until 1904 when he finally settled down in the French capital. At this time Picasso started to explore and experiment with different art styles that were modern. This portion of his life is called the blue period. This was because of the blue tones Picasso’s paintings had. During the year of 1905 to 1906 a radical change took place in Picasso’s style of painting once again. His choice of colors and mood were evident in this period of his life. He used subtle pinks and grays that were often highlighted by brighter tones. This was tone as his rose period. (Rodenbeck, Compton's, Joseph)

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...of them include the Tragedy 1903, Girl Reading at the Table 1834, Crucifixion 1934, Dorra Maar 1937 and so many others.

Picasso had a very unique sense of style. His willingness and open exploration to try new and different things made him a great artist in his time. He had many talents, he not only painted but, he was a sculptor, he did drawings, he worked with ceramics and he was also a poet which no one really new about. This is only a small glimpse at this artist diverse life and career as an artist. Picasso has contributed a lot to modern art. He has done so much and we have the privilege of being able to see his work displayed in museums.

Bibliography

Compton’s Encyclopedia 2000

Eakin, Hugh. (Nov. 2000) Picasso’s Party Line. Art News V. 99 no. 10 p. 186-90

Encarta Encyclopedia 2000

Hall, James. (Winter 2000), Picasso As A Sculptor. Modern Painters v. 13 no4 p. 48-50

Joseph, Daniel. (Jan 2001), “Picasso: figures and portraits”: Kunstforum Wien. Art News v. 100 no1 p. 160.

Rodenbeck, Judith, Fall 1993 “Insistent Presence In Picasso’s Portrait of Gertrude Stein” Columbia University http://www.showgate.com/tots/Picasso/piclink.html