The “life of Pablo” invariably appearing in top if not top of many, especially online artists list of favourites and inspirations along with Dalí:
Picasso was “misogynistic”, says friend (video, bbc.co.uk).
“An exhibition of Picasso’s art has opened in the Gagosian museum in London, curated by a close friend. ‘’He absolutely adored women but he was, I’m afraid very misogynistic. I don’t think you can defend his view, I don’t, but it made art.”
Which, with a repeated proclivity for painting mistress Dora Maar weeping, cubistically or not, should perhaps surprise no one: The Weeping Woman (Wikipedia).
“Dora, for me, was always a weeping woman…. And it’s important, because women are suffering machines.”
Whereas he was part bull, the Minotaur often depicted and often as himself—although the bull an important figure along with the horse in Spanish culture—and his allusions to Mithraism, the Greco-Roman mystery religion centred around the god Mithras—something of a Pagan Christ figure—that was practised in the Roman Empire from about the 1st to the 4th century, which the video touches upon at 0:20. The Mithraic Cult (web.org.uk)
“Picasso’s use of the bullfight theme appears to have an association with the Mithraic cult. The American art historian Ruth Kaufman identified the use of Mithraic iconography in Picasso’s Crucifixion of 1930 and associated it with the writings of Georges Bataille who was Picasso’s friend at that time. Picasso also seems to have referred to the Mithraic cult in his work before….”
He also liked ’em a bit shy—and perhaps in awe—I hear:
“Picasso chose me because I am shy and not sexy” (audio, bbc.co.uk).
Picasso: Minotaurs and Matadors, The Gagosian, London 28th Aug.—25th Aug. 2017 (gagosian.com).
Recent/related stories
- Blue period Picasso—with a wee secret—goes under the hammer (Latest Picks 9th October 2015)
- Dali sketch for Nazi loving Wallis Simpson to be auctioned (Pick of the Week 24th September 2013)
- Picasso portrait of mistress sold for £28m (approx. $44m) at Sotheby’s (Pick of the Week 12th February 2013)
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