Pablo Picasso – The Artist and His Muse
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Pablo Picasso defined Modern Art just as Einstein defined the word “scientist.” Picasso was the colossus brand ambassador of Cubism and Abstract Art. However, greater the fame he achieved with his brush, the more degenerate his relationships became. Pablo Picasso‘s art, despite of or maybe because of his failed relationships, infidelity, and vengefulness, reflected emotional sourness, which made them world famous.
Pablo Picasso faced his first tragedy at the death of his sister, Conchita, when he was just seventeen. This left a very deep impression on him. Although Pablo never bordered on the edginess of Goya or Van Gogh or Gauguin, he had his share of mistresses and lovers. Most of Pablo‘s relationships with them ended bitterly. What would start as a hero worship would end with the accusations of infidelity and abuse. This story repeated itself several times, as Picasso‘s art grew from Realism to Blue, Rose, Africanism, and Cubism. The funniest part was that, as Pablo Picasso seems to have “phases” in his art; his women also were “in phases.” For every segment of his works, it is easy to single out a different woman.
Pablo Picasso‘s first long-term mistress was Fernande Olivier, who was a fellow artist of his. Olivier was the muse, who graced his “Rose” period works. The colors in Rose Phase Paintings were primarily bright Orange, and Pink. Happy characters such as, Circus Artisans and Harlequins graced Pablo Picasso‘s Canvas. It could be said that maybe the young Picasso was in love. However, as his art gained value, he left Olivier for Eva (Marcelle Humbart), now making her the queen of his “Cubist” works. Many mistresses later, Picasso tried his hands at marriage with Ballerina Khokhlova. Khokhlova was a high society woman, who tried making the bohemian Pablo to “civilize” himself with high-class parties, outings, and powerful friends. The couple did not go far with their marriage, as Picasso fell in love with a seventeen-year old damsel, Marie-Thérèse Walter. This was at most an infatuation for the young woman but Picasso fathered a girl with her and Marie lived in the false hope that Picasso would marry her one day. Of course, Picasso, who backtracked, disappointed her. Ditched badly, Marie hanged herself. Khokhlova, of course could not take well the philandering of her husband. Picasso however, refused to divorce her, fearing a division of his fortune. The couple remained separated until Khokhlova Died in 1955.
Another constant influence in Picasso‘s life was the painter Dora Maar, with whom he had a parallel relationship (the closest was in 1930′s). She featured as his Muse in most of his Abstract Works and was responsible for documenting his most famous work “Guernica.” After the liberation of France, Pablo Picasso fell in love with a French art student, Francois Gilot. Their affair lasted for 9 years, with the only twist this time being, it was Gilot, who left Picasso. Pablo was heartbroken, though took his revenge by making her divorce her husband, while he himself solemnized his second marriage with Jacqueline Roque.
Pablo Picasso‘s life is as much a study of his craft as his psychology. One can view him as a philanderer or as an artist who refused to be tied down to one Muse. Perhaps his folly was in seeing only a muse where he should have seen a companion. However, perhaps then, we would not have the geniuses of Picasso.
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