Picasso's Cubism and Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Picasso's Cubism and Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso (Spanish); 1907; oil.

Location: New York City, United States; The Museum of Modern Art.

        When contemplating Pablo Picasso's painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, it is important to consider intent and reception within the historical context of 1907. While nudes have been painted, famously, throughout art history, it has not always been directly acknowledged where the models for such paintings come from. Earlier in art history, it was considered inappropriate for a man, even a painter, to see a nude woman and so male models would be used, resulting in manly women. Originally called The Brothel of Avignon, the title directly acknowledges that the painting depicts not just any nude women, but prostitutes—something the painting's audience seemed to focus entirely on when it premiered. Picasso's other thought was regarding size and how the art world seems to equate size with importance; Demoiselles is a large painting at 243.9x233.7 cm (roughtly 8x7½ feet).

        At the painting's debut, while most onlookers were fixated on the perceived ridiculousness of the work, some observers received Picasso's message about the title. One such person was art critic Gelett Burgess, who wondered where the women came from; Picasso's witty reply to Burgess's something like "where do you think?" The importance of the nude can be seen through movement after movement in art, albeit in different forms. Picasso's form of choice was his cubist style, something akin to a caricature. With a caricature being considered common and every day, it was ironic for Picasso to create this painting so large.  This irony is further played upon by the painting's title and content. Being received as it was proves Picasso's intention, to point out the oxymorons within the art world—proving its own unique ridiculousness.