Spent the afternoon at the Art Institute of Chicago, specifically to see the Picasso exhibit. What a fantastic start to our trip! I never realized Picasso went through so many phases of expression. Everyone knows of his cubist paintings. RBK and I were curious as to how he came to create art in the radical manner he chose. I'm not sure I know the answer to that but I really enjoyed viewing the hundreds of paintings, drawings and sculpture in the exhibit. To the left is one of his earlier works, done in a classic style. Below is an example of cubism. I believe this piece is a representation of a seated woman, however, I cannot remember, exactly.
I was fascinated by the conversations I heard. At one point in the exhibit, I followed a trio of 70-something women through a couple of galleries. Says one, "Why would someone who could paint these beautiful works of art, also make these strange scribbly things. They look like something you might have done by accident and then thrown in the garbage. You certainly don't keep those things." Picasso must have been in one of his surrealist automatism phases. Art created in this style may be attributed to the sub-conscious and may reveal elements of the psyche that could be repressed. I learned that he didn't feel he was a part of this movement but created in this style along with many other experimental styles simply to expand his creative world. For for information, check out this link:
http://www.egodialogues.com/2012/surrealist-automatism/
The Art Institute of Chicago is home to many famous works of art. I loved seeing folks from all over the world relating to American Gothic. Fun fact: Did you know that this is not a farmer couple but a farmer with his unmarried daughter?
What great insight. Thank you for sharing. My husband took an art appreciation class a few years ago and loved it. It gives a whole new perspective on what you are looking at.
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