Venus Li Ka Ching talks on Pablo Picasso: Old Guitarist (1903)

Individual presentation (5 minutes max) – 30%

Discuss the work you have chosen in some detail. Show that you have read about the work in the required reading and that you have also read additional materials that you have found independently. Unless you have a special reason, do not include the biography of the artist in this brief talk. In the best presentations it will be clear that the speaker has thought deeply about one work of art and what s/he has read about it, forming his/her own opinions about what it means, and how this meaning is communicated.

A good presentation will include:

• full details of the work – artist, title, year, medium, dimensions
  
  
  Title: The Old Guitarist

  Artist: Pablo Picasso 

  Year: 1903

  
  

  Medium: Oil On Panel  

  Dimensions: 122.9 cm X 82.6 cm 

  Location: The Art Institute of Chicago   

  Style: Expressionism 

           (associated with Fauvism)

• an explanation of how the work fits into a broader style or movement (eg Realism) and the specific historical context (eg the mid 19^th century in France).
  
  Expressionism is the most influential force in Picasso's style. It was a cultural movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the start of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world in a subjective perspective, radically distorted it for emotional effect, to evoke moods or ideas. Expressionist artists sought to express the meaning of "being alive" and emotional experience rather than physical reality. In Fauvism, design was simplified and pure colors were used to obtain a stronger reaction from viewers. Color became the principal element responsible for coherence and meaning. Clearly, Picasso's use of different blue tones in The Old Guitarist follows the principles of expressionism and fauvism. Apart from expressionism, El Greco, a 16th century Spanish artist known for his paintings' elongated limbs, angular positions and distorted portrayals of figures, Picasso's poor living standard and the suicide of a dear friend influenced Picasso's style at the time, which came to be known as the "Blue Period".

• A description of the work
  
  The Old Guitarist by Picasso depicts an old, blind, pale man with threadbare clothing weakly hunched over his guitar, playing in the streets in Barcelona, Spain.
  In detail, firstly, the monochromatic color scheme eliminates the joy of changing colors and light. It creates 2D forms that dissociate the guitarist from time and place.
  In addition, the overall muted blue palette emphasizes a tragic and sorrowful theme.
  Furthermore, the guitarist shows no sign of life, implying little comfort in the world.
  Details are eliminated and scale is manipulated to create elongated, skinny and elegant proportions and to intensify his silent meditation and a sense of spirituality.
  Moreover, The dull brown guitar fills up the space around the guitarist physically and symbolically. It is the center and focus. The guitar comes to represent the guitarist's world and only hope for survival. A guitar, as a musical instrument, is a natural mean for expressing emotions. This allows the guitarist to share and increase his loneliness.
  Some art historians believe this painting expresses the solitary life of an artist and the natural struggles that come with the career. Therefore, music, or art, becomes a burden and a separating force, isolating artists from the rest of the world. Art becomes a symbol of rejection and isolation. The conclusion is that Picasso was criticizing society.
  

• one key quote about the work in question
  
  
  The Man With the Blue Guitar by Wallace Stevens

  XV
  Is this picture of Picasso's,
  this "hoard Of destructions",
  a picture of ourselves,
  

  Now, an image of our society?
  Do I sit, deformed, a naked egg,

  Catching at Good-bye, harvest moon,

  Without seeing the harvest or the moon?

  Things as they are have been destroyed.

  Have I? Am I a man that is dead

  At a table on which the food is cold?

  Is my thought a memory, not alive?

  Is the spot on the floor, there, wine or blood

  And whichever it may be, is it mine?
  
  
  
  
• why this work interests you/ your own opinion of the work
  
  The dull color in this painting attracts me a lot. Although there are two main colors only (blue and brown), I appreciate Picasso's full utilization of a single color to construct the whole picture.
  Secondly, this painting undeniably gives me a feeling of misery, which is my favorite emotion among the others. The biggest contributor is the blue color. The subject, a poor skinny old man is also commiserative. Distorted body figure gives us a sense of discomfort and sorrow as well.
  Finally is the meaning that firstly came into my mind when I saw this painting. I feel a powerful inner spirit of the old man, or of Picasso. This old man, representing Picasso, plays music despite of his poverty. Artists would never give up their dreams or hobbies even though they are in a predicament. I think they got a high level spirit and this is worth to learn.

• names of authors, titles of articles, books or websites (and publication information) that are especially relevant to this work
  
  
  “The Old Guitarist - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia”

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Guitarist (accessed  Mar. 21, 2011)

  “Wallace Stevens, ‘The Man with the Blue Guitar’ (excerpts)”

  http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88v/blueguitar.html

  “Expressionism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia”

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressionism (accessed Mar. 15, 2011)

  “Picasso's Blue Period - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia”

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picasso%27s_Blue_Period (accessed  Jan. 15, 2011)
  
  
  
  
• a thought-provoking question about the work for the class
  
  
  Some art historians believed that Picasso was so poor that he could only afford one color to paint.
  

  If you were poor and could hardly make a living, will you still pursue your hobbies or dreams, like Picasso?  Why?