The linear perspective is not a determinant of reality but a mere Illusion!

I dont paint what I see, I paint what I know!
-Picasso

The enigmatic Madmioselles dAvignon was made in direct response of a Matisse painting:
The Joy of Life, which depicts a group of nudes dancing in a circle on a hilltop in a
sacred ritual. With the philosophical advent of Nichi, cultural man attacked and killed
natural man. The Joy of Life was quite related to the Dionysian value system of passion
and interrogation of the soul, it was commissioned by a wealthy man named Schtutkin (sp?)
and when it was delivered, he thought it was scandalous and couldnt show it to his
daughter. After all, the figures were on the edge of sensuality!



This painting isnŐt actually The Joy of Life but a reasonable likeness by Matisse called Dance.

Both Mattise and Picasso were huge fans of Cezanne. Matisse took colors from the work
of Cezanne and Picasso took models from his work. In Joy of Life, we can see the colors
blue (sky) and green (earth), the unbridled colors of freedom. The figures however are not
too beautiful. The motifs include landscape, portrait and nudes (Venus).

The connection between Picasso and Matisse was Gertrude Stein. Apparently Stein took
Picasso to visit Matisse and they agreed to exchange paintings but the exchange was delayed
because each couldnŐt create something good enough for the other in their own mind.

Les Demadmoiselles dAvignon 1907:


This highly cubist or sharp angled piece depicts scenes from brothel. The two central
European ladies of the night are lying on a bed. On the left is an Egyptian and on the
right, 2 Africans (Iberian) with masks. PicassoŐs collection of ancient Iberian masks
is considered a stepping-stone to cubism. The operation of masks was important as the
academic process looked toward nonwestern influence to escape cold technology. The
masks were also fitting for the prostitutes who played the role of sex-saleswomen hiding
behind them. Symbolically, masks offered protection. Picasso was scared of venereal disease.

Picasso kept this painting private for a long while because it was so provocative,
disturbing and confrontational. Note the feminine AND masculine qualities and how the
two center characters (which are lying on their backs) are inviting you in! TheyŐre
intimidating and my own opinion is that Picasso made the center two pleasing to the eye
to counteract the three on the periphery, which are displeasing. In any case, Picasso
found inspiration in the counter-bourgeoisies, the brothels where he would hang out.
He painted the counter-side of culture. Interestingly, this painting was viewed by men
and women in a study and their opinions differed. Men thought the women were intimidating
and somewhat homely while women described them as strong, hmmmmÉ The body on the bottom
right with the muscled arm is a direct copy from a piece by Cezanne.

Until Picasso, art was predominantly a head-on view of the subject. Picasso was intensely
analytical, approaching subjects from 360 degrees and incorporating multiple views into
representations, constituting his major contribution to abstraction.