Art Elements

Pablo Picasso "The Guitarist" late 1903–early 1904

Art Appreciation

    The painting I chose to share is Pablo Picasso's The Old Guitarist. This painting is one of the most appealing works that I have seen. It is not your usual bright, happy, or beautiful painting that one would gravitate towards. This piece's beauty comes from the use of color, the pop of color in the guitar, and the detail presented. The tone in which this piece displays in my opinion, are sadness and empathy. This comes from his use of color, by doing the monochromatic blues to show sadness. The use of his lines further shows sadness like the jagged lines of the upper shoulder of his shirt. You empathize with this man by the lines and shading within his sunken eyes and cheek bones. Parts of his face are highlighted showing that he is old and possibly starving. At first glance you would not know, on top of everything else, he is also blind. After further inspection and research, you can really see his expression. The detail in the thicker line work of the eyes to slightly emphasize his blindness. His clothing is tattered and torn. His body language shows that he is tired or weak, yet has enough strength to hold up his guitar. Another thing to point out, is the roughness of the oil paint on the panel mainly the background and the man's face emphasizing the focal point. This painting is something I can relate to. I feel we have all had a sort of "Blue Period" of our own. I feel most inspired during those times, more so as a stress reliever.  It is a very emotional painting that deserves appreciation. It allows you to feel that sorrow the man is going through and truly empathize with him.

Painting Background

Pablo Picasso made this painting in late 1903 into early 1904. It is an oil painting on panel. The origin is said to be made in Spain. This work of art was created during Picasso's "Blue Period" (“The Old Guitarist”). His Blue Period started while he hit hard times and dealt with the “suicide of his dear friend Casagemas” (Anirudh). During that time period the art he painted used cold monochromatic palettes and images of "emotional and psychological themes of misery and alienation" (“The Old Guitarist”). It was through his own personal experience of struggling, his interest in Spanish artist El Greco, and sympathy for those less fortunate that brought this painting to life. Picasso’s theme for this painting is sorrow and tragedy. It is also said that in 1998, researchers used an infrared camera on the image and a young seated woman is shown in the center of the piece. The woman is “reaching out with her left arm to her kneeling child at her right, and a calf or sheep on the mother’s left side”. (Anirudh)

       The infrared image showing the seated woman

References

Anirudh. “10 MOST FAMOUS PAINTINGS BY PABLO PICASSO.” Learnodo-Newtonic, 9 January 2017, https://learnodo-newtonic.com/pablo-picasso-famous-paintings. Accessed 01 February 2021.

“The Old Guitarist.” Art Institute Chicago, Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection, 2018, https://www.artic.edu/artworks/28067/the-old-guitarist. Accessed 01 February 2021.