by PotauLait.be
Picasso’s 1921 painting, Three Musicians, is an exploration of flat shapes and two-dimensionality. It demonstrates principles and observable characteristics of Synthetic Cubism.
In contrast to Analytic Cubism, which was developed between 1908 and 1912 by Picasso and Georges Braque, Synthetic Cubism is achieved through a construction process rather than an intellectual deconstruction of forms found in the real world, such as cylinders, spheres, and cones. Synthetic Cubism is more decorative and experimental in nature than Analytic Cubism.
In this painting, the flat planes and lack of shading techniques typically used to suggest depth and realistic space foreshadow the artist’s later venture into collage, which represents the pinnacle or most extreme permutation of Synthetic Cubism.
Concerning the subject matter, Picasso’s Three Musicians recalls a somewhat idealized bygone era of bohemian life. Here, Picasso, in the guise of the central figure of the Harlequin, is flanked by his recently deceased friend Guillaume Apollinaire and longtime companion Max Jacob.
It is important to note that the Harlequin is a recurring stand-in for the artist An Artist Portrait (Part One) - This is a fantastic article written exclusively for my Weblog by Frank V. Cahoj. Please feel free to comment here or send him emails. He'll be happy of this. An Artist Portrait (Part One) My name is Frank Cahoj and I have been an artist since I was born. I can say this in confidence without… himself. A stock character from the traveling Italian comedic troupe known as the Commedia dell’Arte, the Harlequin carried lower-class connotations and was highly emblematic of the outsider status of the artist-performer.
The role of the outsider naturally held a strong appeal for Picasso, explaining his repeated self-identification with the figure. By aligning his identity with that of the Commedia dell’Arte character, Picasso emphasized his isolated existence as an artist.
Picasso’s substitution of the Harlequin for himself is a technique he first used between 1901 and 1905 during his Rose period.
As a result, Three Musicians is a painting that looks back to the past.
The reintegration of the Harlequin into Picasso’s work could indicate the artist reconsidering his creative and social identity. However, the revival of the Harlequin may have more straightforward, formal implications. The figure’s signature costume of brightly colored, intricately patterned fabric could simply serve as an excuse for Picasso to further experiment with surface design and flat geometry.
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