"The Old Guitarist" Analysis
"The Old Guitarist"
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From the late 1903 to the early 1904, Pablo Picasso created an oil painting named "The Old Guitarist". It was an artwork that was created during Pablo Picasso's "Blue Period", in where he consistently painted grim artwork that often portrayed the emotional theme of human misery and loss. Upon it's release, many were shocked by the haunting image that this artwork consisted of. "The Old Guitarist" is one of the best examples of symbolism.
Based on my previous knowledge, I expected Picasso's paintings to be rather abstract and have cubism applied to it. When I first saw this picture, I had mixed feelings about it. I was shocked to see such monotone colors, but on the other hand, I was fascinated by the variety of shades of the same color that he used in this painting. I could see that the guitarist was mainly painted blue and the only shift in color was the brown guitar and the greenish-brown floor. In addition, the crooked pose of the man's hand really caught my eye, because it was positioned abnormally, to a point where it stood out from the painting. The expression that the man held in the painting was very intriguing to see too. Because of it's dark, gloomy colors and the whole emotion of the artwork, it made me feel sad, in a way that was sympathetic to the man in the picture. Just by using colors and strokes, Picasso produced an artwork that was very provocative. |
The guitarist in the picture is sitting down with his head lying low. This indicates that the man is either sad or lost in his thoughts. The painting, itself, is in portrait form, giving more emphasis on the main subject, the guitarist. The thin, skeleton-like figure of the subject indicates that it had its roots coming from Spain, Picasso's mother country. At that time, an artist, El Greco, also used to paint the same way. The strokes seem rather varied, as one seems to go in a certain way, while the other goes on the opposite. I can even almost smell the dry air and hear the low tunes of the guitar. Everything else is painted very simply, except for the man's head which consists of many shades to produce more shadows, making it look more realistic. Unlike what Picasso is known for, this drawing is more on the realistic side, giving off a more serious vibe. It seems like the man in the picture is grieving for someone and had just lost someone that was dear to him. If you look closely, on the right side of the man's head, you can see the faint marks of a woman and her baby. If you look more to the right, you can see some sort of an animal that is also faintly drawn. This tells the audience that the woman was the wife of the guitarist and the baby was the child of the guitarist, showing that they were once by his side before losing to death. Symbolism is best demonstrated in what Picasso painted in "The Old Guitarist".
If I was to apply the rule of thirds into this painting, I would say that the composition was well put and that the focus was mainly directed towards the old guitarist. I think Pablo Picasso purposely painted it like this for the sole purpose of having the attention all directed to the man. Because the subject is located in the middle, it balances out the whole artwork and the guitar also contributes to the balance of it. Like I said before, the woke evokes feelings through its color it uses and the strokes that it uses. Furthermore, lines were used in the form of strokes, allowing the man to look more like a human. The lines are medium-sized and by looking closely, you can see the varied types of strokes that Picasso used in this painting. The color that he used is very cold and monochromatic, symbolizing the loss of someone important. Just by looking at this painting, the texture seems rough, but in the same way, it is organized so that it looks legitimate. Contrast of color was rarely shown, but the contrast of color was huge in this painting. The shapes were all very different and he applied more positive space into this painting. He distributed his space fairly and there weren't any "lacking" places. Overall, it is a very well done piece.
My perceptions/feelings have changed a bit, because of the research that I've done about this painting. I learnt that he painted this right after his close friend died, so it makes sense. It's not an artwork that uses a popular technique and it's a rather conceptual skill. In my opinion, Pablo Picasso focuses on a lot of conceptual skills and his ideas of art is endless. This is a very effective piece, because it depicts human nature in it's realest form.
Now, I understand why Pablo Picasso is one of the most crucial and influential artists of history. His works such as this one shows the techniques and concepts that no one has ever done before. In an interesting way, it evokes the feelings and mood of the audience. Pablo Picasso is surely an amazing painter.
If I was to apply the rule of thirds into this painting, I would say that the composition was well put and that the focus was mainly directed towards the old guitarist. I think Pablo Picasso purposely painted it like this for the sole purpose of having the attention all directed to the man. Because the subject is located in the middle, it balances out the whole artwork and the guitar also contributes to the balance of it. Like I said before, the woke evokes feelings through its color it uses and the strokes that it uses. Furthermore, lines were used in the form of strokes, allowing the man to look more like a human. The lines are medium-sized and by looking closely, you can see the varied types of strokes that Picasso used in this painting. The color that he used is very cold and monochromatic, symbolizing the loss of someone important. Just by looking at this painting, the texture seems rough, but in the same way, it is organized so that it looks legitimate. Contrast of color was rarely shown, but the contrast of color was huge in this painting. The shapes were all very different and he applied more positive space into this painting. He distributed his space fairly and there weren't any "lacking" places. Overall, it is a very well done piece.
My perceptions/feelings have changed a bit, because of the research that I've done about this painting. I learnt that he painted this right after his close friend died, so it makes sense. It's not an artwork that uses a popular technique and it's a rather conceptual skill. In my opinion, Pablo Picasso focuses on a lot of conceptual skills and his ideas of art is endless. This is a very effective piece, because it depicts human nature in it's realest form.
Now, I understand why Pablo Picasso is one of the most crucial and influential artists of history. His works such as this one shows the techniques and concepts that no one has ever done before. In an interesting way, it evokes the feelings and mood of the audience. Pablo Picasso is surely an amazing painter.