Picasso’s Claude Writing (1951)
Nothing in Picasso, or poetic art for that matter, is straightforward. Though this appears to be a portrait of Picasso’s son, Claude, writing, it is obviously an alter ego of Picasso himself not writing but drawing.
Picasso, Claude Writing (1951)
Click image to enlarge.
Adult artists often imagine themselves as their own children because, having struggled to become great masters, they symbolize themselves re-born like Christ, as an infant…even if they are not religious. And their own children, naturally, maintain a resemblance. Picasso frequently used the idea, with or without religious reference.
Click next thumbnail to continue
Detail and Diagram of Claude Writing
Click image to enlarge.
Look carefully at the eye on the right and you will see the profile of a little chick, facing to the left. The visual illusion is typical of Picasso though its meaning is, at least to me, not entirely clear. It is surely intentional.
More Works by Picasso
Genres are an artificial classification of little meaning. For instance, as here, still-life without life would be still-born.
Picasso’s Still-Life with Door, Guitar and Bottles (1916)
Notes:
Publication Date: 06 Sep 2010
© Simon Abrahams. All articles on this site are the copyright of Simon Abrahams. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site in print or other media for purposes that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Other websites may link to this page without permission (in fact, please do) but may not reproduce the material on their own site.
