This Thursday, 1st Februrary at 21.30 on BBC Radio 3 TP takes part in a programme in which Philip Dodd and guests explore Pablo Picasso's 1907 work Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, which would become arguably the most important painting of the century. Picasso portrayed five prostitutes gazing out at the viewer, their faces bold and solicitous, apparently inspired by African and Oceanic carvings that he had seen in Parisian museums.
The programme, which lasts for 30 minutes, will be available to listen again after broadcast until 8th February
1 comment:
Just heard to the "listen again" broadcast, while gazing at the image on the website. Fascinating discussion (though I'd rather have heard two painters ...) "Unfinished picture, finished job" -- exactly!
Whilst looking, it struck me for the first time that the two central figures (2 & 3) are actually lying on a bed, surrounded by the masked figures , and immediately the dynamics of the painting changed for me.
I liked your mediaeval "Best you can" idea -- the way Picasso deliberately scrubs in those amateurish shapes and shadings, a slap in the face of all "accomplishment", has always seemed the main deliberate challenge of the picture to me.
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