Picasso's Color Usage

Paper Summary:

In this paper, the paintings "The Old Guitarist" and "Head' by Pablo Picasso are examined in this study of color usage in the painter's lifespan. The paper illustrates how the darker, more depressive colors of Picasso's blue period often reveal the monochromatic approach to painting, as the artist struggled with death and economic downturns. However, as the artist grew and matured, the artist began using a wider variety of often challenging color associations. The paper portrays how with the pinks, greens, whites and yellows interacting in "Head," one can see the female gender roles and relationship issues that plagued Picasso's latter life.

From the Paper:

"This art study will examine the color thematic within two of Pablo Picasso's works: "Head" (1934) and "The Old Guitarist" (1903). By examining elements of Picasso's "blue period", one can realize how psychological factors represent a dominating color theme of blue in "The Old Guitarist." In contrast to this often dominating blue color value in his earlier works, Picasso evolves over a thirty year period to produce "Head," which has a wider variety of brighter colors used in his latter color themes. In this manner, Picasso's color thematic has a wide range across the color spectrum, which invariably relates to the differing psychological periods of his life. The painting "The Old Guitarist"--painted in 1903--is part of a dark period in the life of Pablo Picasso."

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• Research Paper # 94881 : "Pablo Picasso"

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