The Greatest Individual

“Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.”- Pablo Picasso

This type of thinking is what made Pablo Picasso the Greatest Person in History. Instead of simply conforming to 19th century ideas and practices, he dared to think in ways that no one had thought before. When the standards for art were realism, following mainstream designs, and detailed attention to actuality, Picasso painted and created abstract and abnormal figures and images that reflected independent thinking as well as commented on the changes and events going on in the world during his time.

Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881 as Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Crispiniano de la Santísima Trinidad in Malaga, Spain (the long name was a commemoration to various saints and relatives). His father was an artist and professor at a school of crafts (and later on school of fine arts) and he grew up involved in art, taking to it at an early age. In fact, according to his mother, his first words were the nickname for pencil in Spanish. Picasso did so naturally well with art and painting that he was sent to the prestigious and renowned art school, Royal Academy of San Fernando, for advanced instruction. Unfortunately, or not unfortunately, he had trouble accepting formal instruction and soon left the school to continue on his own. This independence and desire to avoid conforming to school standards and a teacher’s formal instruction helped him to become the magnificent person we know him today to be.

Picasso later on moved to France and spent much of his time there, creating art, becoming famous, and developing ideas uncommon and unheard-of for his time period. Many experiences, including those with growing up middle class, World War II, communism, fame, and simply every day interactions helped to shape the unconventional mind that produced wondrously abnormal (yet intriguing) artwork.

Not only was he different in his work, but he was also one of the few people in history whose work (in their lifetime, mind you) was so extensive that it was able to be categorized in its own way. Picasso created around 50,000 pieces of work including, but not limited to thousands of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, prints, tapestries, and rugs. This alone is mind-boggling and amazing that one person can create this much art. Not just copies of works but pure art- creations, innovations, expressions of inner feelings, emotions, and points of view. Art that speaks more by itself than can ever be spoken or articulated by a human in words. This alone is a reason why he is the greatest person ever. Because of the magnanimity of his work, it is divided into periods, including the Blue Period (1901 –1904), the Rose Period (1905 –1907), the African-influenced Period (1908 –1909), Analytic Cubism (1909 –1912), and Synthetic Cubism (1912 –1919).

The Blue Period:

Just looking at these paintings makes you feel blue. This is the power that Picasso has over viewers. Without having to say a thing orally, he makes the observer see the pain and sadness that he felt-or is it that the man in the painting’s feelings? Nevertheless, he makes you think about what feelings and emotions are expressed by the old man sitting with his guitar. He makes you think about what the blind man is thinking as he eats his meal. As depicted by the title, the Blue Period consists of solemn, dark, gloomy, and melancholy paintings that were mostly painted with shades of blue. The suicide of one of his friends as well as a trip through Spain have been thought to have influenced the mood and tone of the paintings from this period.

The Rose Period:

The paintings from this period are more lively and cheerful and use more vibrant and warm colors. They also include more positive themes, thought to be influenced by increased exposure to French art and a friendship with a French muse. Again, Picasso’s paintings cause you to think (without realizing it too) who are those poor, seemingly lost souls from the circus? What is that boy with the pipe thinking? What must he be feeling to have that expression on his face? Picasso’s work never fails to make one think…think….think…

The African-Influenced Period:

The artwork from this period reflect a widening horizon of his artistic views, encompassing more variety and diversity in his subject matter. These paintings also represent a transition into Cubism and more abstract, avant-garde works. One looks at the painting above and is taken back by the difference it has from the average painting. Most people would paint a realistic portrait of someone, or maybe a picture of a bowl of fruits? No, Picasso may have painted a portrait but this portrait is unlike any other. This portrait is from his perspective, his point of view, albeit an abstract one, of what a certain individual looked like, if not in the physical sense maybe in an emotional or psychological sense.

The Analytic and Synthetic Cubism:

The work involved in this area involve even more obscure and profound designs, venturing further into uncharted territory in the ways that he hatched his creations. As seen in his works, there are more defined shapes, colors, designs. Objects stop looking realistic and become more unconventional, surreal, and innovative. In fact, with this work, Picasso helped the concept of surrealism to come about. Shapes and designs take on whole new meanings and they take thinking and conceptualism to a new level.

His 50,000 plus creations not only changed the standards for art, but also the standards for thinking. Instead of following set standards and guidelines, he dared to think outside of the proverbial box and he dared to be different. By coercing society to be more accepting of different and abnormal concepts, he broadened the horizons for many people to be able to come after him and develop new ideas. New concepts such as psychology, womens rights, and advanced science and technology were allowed to flourish after his work stretched the boundaries for thinking. By opening new windows and opportunities for all of us today through his fame and success, Picasso will be remembered as a great individual.

Sources:

http://www.biographyonline.net/artists/images/picasso4602.jpg

http://www.picasso.com/life/index.php

http://www.theartistpablopicasso.com/s2-picassoblueguitar-2.jpg

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_50.188.jpg

http://www.nga.gov/image/a0000e/a0000eb9.jpg

http://www.pablo-ruiz-picasso.net/images/works/61.jpg

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/p/picasso/uhde.jpg

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/p/picasso/ma_jolie.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/245/2818/640/italiangirl.3.jpg?force=1

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/P/picasso_syntheticcubism.html

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/p/picasso/rembrndt.jpg

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/p/picasso/self8.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/Gar%C3%A7on_%C3%A0_la_pipe.jpg