Hello friends,
I just returned from a mini-vacation from the sunny city of Málaga in Spain, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. I couldn't miss visiting his museum, where I learned much about his history and wondered, what if Picasso lived during our times?
He was the kind of artist who never sat still. Extraordinarily prolific throughout his career, he created an estimated 50,000 artworks. This vast body of work includes 1,885 paintings, 1,228 sculptures, 2,880 ceramics, thousands of prints, and numerous tapestries and rugs. A vast 'supply' as we would say, in the onchain art world...
Pablo Picasso's artistic evolution can be seen through his different periods, which marked the start and end of his explorations. During the Blue Period from 1901 to 1904, he captivated the art world with monochrome pieces like The Old Guitarist, using blues to convey deep emotion. In the Rose Period from 1904 to 1906, Picasso shifted to warmer tones, depicting circus performers in works such as Family of Saltimbanques, showcasing a lighter, whimsical atmosphere.
His groundbreaking phase, Cubism, lasted from 1907 to 1919, starting with Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. He radically shifted to abstract forms and introduced techniques like collage in Still Life with Chair Caning. This period also included his African-influenced period, during which he was inspired by African tribal art, which significantly impacted his style. Picasso also ventured into sculpture and ceramics, manipulating materials in works like Head of a Woman and the vibrant Owl, and mastered detailed etching in his Vollard Suite print series.
Picasso was all about stepping out of his comfort zone. His philosophy, "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it," suggests he would have been eager to experiment with tools like VR, AI, generative art, code, 3D printing, and plotters in his search for something new. As someone who had issues with fakes and forgers during his lifetime, it wouldn't be crazy to see Picasso using blockchains to authenticate his artwork.
These are just tools, though. The question is, what could Picasso have created with them?
We know his environment played an influential role in his practice. The Spanish Civil War inspired Guernica (1937), a powerful political commentary reflecting his engagement with the issues of his time. Living in various cities—from Málaga and La Coruña to Barcelona, Paris, and the South of France—each shaped the themes and styles of his diverse artistic phases. It’s reasonable to imagine that today's significant issues and trends like modern wars, racism, AI, and cryptocurrency might have found their way into his creations. Additionally, it's intriguing how Picasso, known for his 'macho' persona and misogynistic views, would have addressed feminism and women's rights in his artwork.
Until next time,
- Kaloh
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