Pablo Ruiz Picasso and Frida Kahlo

“It is difficult to get a sense of an artist’s practice on the basis of one work” (Art world Magazine) The works of both Picasso and Kahlo are recognised worldwide and are typified by their unique styles that portray their expressive meaning, both artists worked in the modern art movement of Surrealism fusing the dream world with reality. Their lives were intrinsically linked to their conceptual frameworks which related to world events, politics and life experiences.

Both artists explore a variety of concepts through their works and it is difficult to know the artist’s practice on the basis of one work this is why exploring a series of works helps to get a clearer understanding of how the artists works and how their conceptual framework relates to the artists practice. Picasso worked in the surrealist/cubist movement and was known for his works that portrayed his views on life experiences and world events. Examples of this in his diverse range of works would be his masterpiece titled “Guernica” Oil on canvas 349 cm ? 776 cm (137. 4 in ? 305. 5 in) (1937).

Picasso's purpose in painting it was to bring the world's attention to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by German bombers, who were supporting the Nationalist forces of General Franco during the Spanish Civil War. This artwork deals with the subjective frame because it uses the artwork as a conduit for the artist’s experience, as the artwork is intrinsically linked to deeply felt emotional experiences. Although Picasso was austere about how his works should be viewed saying “I object to the idea that there should be three or four ways of interpreting my pictures there ought to be no more than one”.

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This is evident through his reoccurring symbolism and motifs used in his body of work known as the Blue period (1901–1904) which consisted of somber paintings using dark blue tones with the subject matter referring to the wretchedness and loneliness of women, these works were motivated by the suicide of his close friend Carlos Casagemas. Picasso’s painting “Self-portrait with Cloak” Oil on canvas 81 x 60 cm (1901) is an example of the work produced in the Blue period.

The painting is similar to a Van Gough style portrait as it shows him wearing a dark coat; the colours of the painting coincide with the theme of blue and depression, which allows the viewer to relate to his personal state of mind. Following the blue period came the Rose period (1904-1906), this period contrasted drastically to the blue period with vibrant colours such as orange and pink, the subject matter changed as well consisting of circus performers, harlequins and acrobats. A example of the works in this is period is (Boy with a Pipe), 1905 Oil on canvas, 100 ? 81. cm. This vivid work depicts a Parisian boy holding a pipe in his left hand and wearing a wreath of flowers. Picasso’s conceptual framework was quite diverse and changed over periods of time; he created a diverse array of works linking life experiences, an example of this would be the transition from the somber, depressing blue period which reflected his personal state at that time to the upbeat and cheerful rose period contained vibrant colours reflecting his newfound happiness in life.

This evolution of works shows us that you cannot get sense of his artist practice on the basis of one work. Frida Kahlo is another surrealist artist Mexican culture is prominent in her works. She works in the"I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best” (Frida Kahlo) this statement shows how the structural frame influences her work and describes her form of painting self portraits.

Her artists practice involves exploration of identity as you can follow the development of her subject matter through her extensive production of self portraits. Although her form is limited to self portraits her artists practice cannot be identified on the basis of one painting, her works depict her journey through life like an autobiography. One of the defining moments of her life was when she was 18 and got in a serious car accident, she was permanently disabled, an example of Frida using her work to express her life experiences would be the painting titled“The Bus”. 929. Oil on canvas. 26 x 56 cm. The painting depicts various classes in Mexican society and also makes reference to the accident that occurred that changed her life. Her use of self portraits helps to depict the evolution of herself throughout life, this is shown through her portraits such as The Two Fridas, 1939, Oil on canvas, 67" x 67. This portrait was painted after her divorce to Diego Rivera shows the emotional separation felt after their separation.

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