Pablo Picasso Revision

The colours used in this painting by Picasso are...

• Subtle

• Unrealistic

• Gloomy

• Vibrant

Answer explanation

The colours are NOT SUBDUED which means MUTED. They are Bold, Bright and Vibrant and don't look natural for a realistic portrait

In Picasso's Weeping Woman (1937), the colour palette chosen is contrasting. Where can you see this?

Answer explanation

You could say its contrasting:

Between the Greens and Blues (Cool Colours) of the face and the Reds and Yellows (Warm Colours) in the hat and background - These are Complementary Colours which Contast and make the other look brighter

or

Towards the centre of the painting, the colours are darker and more muted. They are Monochrome (one colour - Blue) around the hand but in contrast, there are many bright colours surrounding the centre. This draws attention to the hand and mouth.

Here we can see a painting where Picasso is painting in his 'Blue Period'. What can we say about this painting?

• The Cool Colours contrast against the Warm Colours

• The Mood of the Painting is Joyful as he is playing Guitar

• The Mood of the Painting is Depressing because of the dull colours

• There are only Cool Colours in this Painting

Answer explanation

The Cool Colours are the Blues of the Man and Background. The Warm Colours contrast against him in the guitar - This draws our eye there. The Paintings Mood could be said to be Depressing because the colours are dull and Subdued.

Try to draw the Geometric Shapes you can see onto Picasso's painting below

Thinking about FORM. I would describe Picasso's painting to be...

• 3-Dimensional

• Flat

• 2-Dimensional

• Realistic

Answer explanation

Picasso didn't use much TONE (shading) so his paintings often looked flat and 2-D

We would describe Picasso's STYLE as...

Answer explanation

Pablo Picasso is known for being a Cubist artist. This means he deconstructed his paintings into flat and geometric planes and shapes and they didn't look realistic. You could say they looked Abstract

How would you describe the texture used in this painting?

• There are Realistic hair textures created with a Fine, Small Brush

• In the woman's coat, there is an Effect of Tweed or Woven Fabric

• There is no texture in this painting

• Large, Visible brushstrokes of Thick Paint on the Background

Answer explanation

Texture can be how something may LOOK like it FEELS - like the effect of fabric or hair ...

but also can be ACTUALLY how it may FEEL- like the thick paint you could touch

I think this may be part of Picasso's .... ...... because of his use of Colour, Subject Matter and Mood

In this painting, the COMPOSITION of the man has an impact on the Mood & Atmosphere. How would you describe this?

Answer explanation

Posture: The man is bent over his guitar which makes him look ill or depressed.

Focal Point: The Guitar draws your eye as it is in the centre of the painting and is surrounded by the man. He could be protecting it as it is his pride and joy for example. It contrasts to the sombre surroundings.

What could be the Subject Matter of this painting?

Answer explanation

Picasso often depicted the circus in his 'Rose Period'. You can see the Harlequin, holding the little girl, possibly his beloved younger sister, Conchita, whose tragic death from diphtheria at the age of seven affected Picasso deeply. There is a jester and the older boy-acrobat. Picasso’s lover at the time, Fernande, is probably the woman strangely separated from the group.