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Picasso: The Blue and Rose Periods
A new affordable edition of the classic book charting Picasso’s journey from the bohemians of the Blue Period to the Rose Period’s acrobats and ingenues This book, first published in 2019 and featuring around 80 works, is devoted to the paintings and sculptures of the young Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) from the so-called Blue and Rose periods, between 1901 and 1907. The masterpieces of these crucial years, every one of them a milestone on Picasso’s path to preeminence as the 20th century’s most famous artist, are presented together in an unparalleled concentration and quality. Picasso’s pictures from this phase are some of the finest and most emotionally compelling examples of modern painting and are counted among the most valuable works in the entire history of art.
Throughout the Blue period, Picasso depicted the material deprivation and psychological suffering of people on the margins of society, before turning in 1905 (when he had settled in Paris) to the themes of the Rose jugglers, acrobats and harlequins. His increasing deformation and fragmentation of the figure throughout this period heralded the emergence of the new pictorial language of Cubism.
The works of the Blue and Rose periods have a universal appeal and poignancy. Existential themes?life, love, sexuality, fate and death?find embodiment in the delicate beauty of young female and male figures, and in depictions of children and of old people scarred by life.
Throughout the Blue period, Picasso depicted the material deprivation and psychological suffering of people on the margins of society, before turning in 1905 (when he had settled in Paris) to the themes of the Rose jugglers, acrobats and harlequins. His increasing deformation and fragmentation of the figure throughout this period heralded the emergence of the new pictorial language of Cubism.
The works of the Blue and Rose periods have a universal appeal and poignancy. Existential themes?life, love, sexuality, fate and death?find embodiment in the delicate beauty of young female and male figures, and in depictions of children and of old people scarred by life.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 20, 2024
I'm not sure how an English language book about an art exhibition in Europe ended up at my local library - but I'm very glad it did!
I wasn't a great fan of Picasso's before, but these paintings - painted when he was aged 21- 25- are just so incredible & show a real sensitivity.
The Blue Period is believed to be a reaction to the suicide of his friend Carles Casemagas. Before you feel too sad at this undoubtedly disturbed young man's death - Casemagas shot at his girlfriend first but fortunately missed & then killed himself. Although Picasso wasn't present, he was deeply affected & painted many pictures of his dead friend.
One of the most famous of the Blue Period paintings, La Vie features Casemagas (originally painted in 1901, Picasso painted over it in 1903)
This portrait of another young man, Jaime Sabartes, is a favourite of mine.
In 1904, Picasso was happier. (Wikipedia suggests this was possibly because of his relationship with Fernande Olivier) & many of the paintings are sensitive & touching - like the cover painting for this book & the one below)
I am not going to make a fool of myself trying to make a detailed explanation of why I responded so well to these paintings, (I'm no art scholar) I only know that I do!
The final chapter is devoted to an interview Stéphane Guégan did with a Picasso biographer, the late John Richardson. Richardson knew Picasso in his later years & I now very much want to seek out the four volumes that Richardson completed.
I wasn't a great fan of Picasso's before, but these paintings - painted when he was aged 21- 25- are just so incredible & show a real sensitivity.
The Blue Period is believed to be a reaction to the suicide of his friend Carles Casemagas. Before you feel too sad at this undoubtedly disturbed young man's death - Casemagas shot at his girlfriend first but fortunately missed & then killed himself. Although Picasso wasn't present, he was deeply affected & painted many pictures of his dead friend.
Together in happier times with another friend, Angel Fernández de Soto(centre)
One of the most famous of the Blue Period paintings, La Vie features Casemagas (originally painted in 1901, Picasso painted over it in 1903)
Public Domain
This portrait of another young man, Jaime Sabartes, is a favourite of mine.
Public Domain, Pushkin Museum
In 1904, Picasso was happier. (Wikipedia suggests this was possibly because of his relationship with Fernande Olivier) & many of the paintings are sensitive & touching - like the cover painting for this book & the one below)
Public Domain, Gothenburg Museum of Art
I am not going to make a fool of myself trying to make a detailed explanation of why I responded so well to these paintings, (I'm no art scholar) I only know that I do!
The final chapter is devoted to an interview Stéphane Guégan did with a Picasso biographer, the late John Richardson. Richardson knew Picasso in his later years & I now very much want to seek out the four volumes that Richardson completed.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
April 21, 2020
Der junge Picasso
Dieser Bildband zeigt anschaulich die frühen Jahre dieses außergewöhnlichen Künstlers.
Es handelt sich um die Zeitspanne 1901 bis 1907.
In dieser kurzen Zeit macht Picasso eine
enorme künstlerische Entwicklung durch.
Ich erkenne auch Impressionen anderer Künstler,an die er sich orientiert hat ,doch Picasso entwickelt seinen eigenen Stil.
Seine blaue Periode ist geprägt von melancholischer Grundstimmung.
Die rosa Periode ist von ihrer Gesamtheit etwas fröhlicher und sagt mir mehr zu.
Nicht nur Bilder,auch Skulpturen fallen in diese Zeit.Dieser Bildband enthält Interpretationen , gut recherchierte Lebensumstände sowie ein Interview mit seiner Lebensgefährtin Fernande Olivier.
Eine Reihe von Fotografien runden dieses Buch ab.
Ich finde es von diesem Autor gut gewählt,diese Schaffenszeit so zu dokumentieren,ich persönlich finde die Bilder sehr ansprechend und kann mich allerdings mit dem späteren Kubismus nicht so anfreunden.
Ein lohnender Bildband um die Schaffenskraft eines Ausnahmekünstlers aufzuzeigen.
Dieser Bildband zeigt anschaulich die frühen Jahre dieses außergewöhnlichen Künstlers.
Es handelt sich um die Zeitspanne 1901 bis 1907.
In dieser kurzen Zeit macht Picasso eine
enorme künstlerische Entwicklung durch.
Ich erkenne auch Impressionen anderer Künstler,an die er sich orientiert hat ,doch Picasso entwickelt seinen eigenen Stil.
Seine blaue Periode ist geprägt von melancholischer Grundstimmung.
Die rosa Periode ist von ihrer Gesamtheit etwas fröhlicher und sagt mir mehr zu.
Nicht nur Bilder,auch Skulpturen fallen in diese Zeit.Dieser Bildband enthält Interpretationen , gut recherchierte Lebensumstände sowie ein Interview mit seiner Lebensgefährtin Fernande Olivier.
Eine Reihe von Fotografien runden dieses Buch ab.
Ich finde es von diesem Autor gut gewählt,diese Schaffenszeit so zu dokumentieren,ich persönlich finde die Bilder sehr ansprechend und kann mich allerdings mit dem späteren Kubismus nicht so anfreunden.
Ein lohnender Bildband um die Schaffenskraft eines Ausnahmekünstlers aufzuzeigen.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews