Welcome to my A-Z Blogging Experience.
This year I decided to share my love of
art, specifically painting, for my A-Z theme. Throughout the month I’ll be
highlighting artists or artwork that I especially like or that have meaning for
me and for art. Disclaimer: I am not an artist, art historian or scholar, or
any kind of professional in art. I just have a passion for it. I have spent
many wonderful, fleeting hours in art museums. I’ve read quite a bit in art
history and biographies of artists. I am no expert by any means, so take this
as a personal, idiosyncratic look at some of the most beautiful and lasting
creations made by the human heart and soul.
B
Blue Period: Picasso
From Picasso’s Blue Period (1901–1904): "The Soup", 1902
A sad, tired mother—tall,
thin, typical of Picasso’s figures in this period—shuffling along in a long
blanket-like robe that conceals her whole body. Her head is bent perpendicular
to her body, parallel to the floor, as though the frame of the painting is
pressing down on her. She holds out a bowl of soup, steam rising from it.
In striking contrast is the little girl,
running, almost leaping toward the mother, her hands stretched upward for the
soup. Her eyes are wide open, whereas the woman’s are closed. She looks eager,
energetic, as opposed to the weariness in the woman’s slumping body. Is she
happy or just desperate for food? It’s hard to tell. Hard to tell whether this
is a portrait of people so poor that the soup may be the only food the little
girl will have today, or whether it’s a scene of warm affection between a
mother and daughter. It’s hard to see the mother as anything but worn out, but
the girl’s attitude is ambiguous.
So many of the people in the Blue Period
paintings look like that—poor, sad, beaten down by life. Art historians
theorize that Picasso was deeply affected by the suicide of a friend. He did
experience a deep depression, during which he painted many of the Blue Period
pictures. That he turned his sorrow into art, as true artists do, is a gift to
history and humanity.
The longer I look at the picture, and more directly at the young girls face, I see more reverence than eagerness. And yes, I see the tiredness in the woman, but a tenderness as well. I get a real sense of deep love/affection between these two. Love your view on it as well as the education on Picasso's life at the time.
ReplyDeleteI loved your description of the painting. It was beautiful and moving.
ReplyDeleteDebra
#1403
One of my favourite painters!
ReplyDeleteAm excellent analysis of the painting, Elaine. I can't decide about the little girl. Maybe she's running to catch the bowl before her mother drops it out of sheer weariness.
ReplyDeleteI love this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for the A to Z Challenge. Looking foward to "C".
ReplyDeleteIt's strange; I looked at this and saw respect. The woman reminds me Japanese lady and I thought of the tea ceremony. It seemed like she was handing on a tradition to the next generation, perhaps weary of the burden after so many years. Love the picture and your information.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post! You would be a star in my art appreciation class. I love Van Gough and especially his blue period. Sadly, his depression turned out so many wonderful pieces!
ReplyDeleteI'm learning a lot just in a couple of days. I look forward to tomorrow.
ReplyDeletePicasso is a favorite artist of mine. Guernica is probably my favorite of his paintings, but I like reading about him and his associates as well. I wrote a post last year about Pablo, under my 'Paris, Etc' page tab, if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen The Soup painting before,so thanks for sharing it in your post. Enjoying your theme.
Beautiful. Picasso is a favorite of mine as well. Nice post :)
ReplyDelete