Marilyn McCully’s Picasso: Painter and Sculptor in Clay performs the double service every good exhibition catalogue must: it documents a body of work that has long been underrated in mainstream Picasso scholarship, and it supplies interpretive apparatus sufficient to make that body of work matter anew. The volume — produced to accompany the Royal Academy … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso: Painter and Sculptor in Clay by Marilyn McCully
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso: Black and White, Edited by Carmen Giménez
In Picasso: Black and White, edited by Carmen Giménez, the reader is invited to traverse the often-overlooked monochromatic corridor of Pablo Picasso’s immense oeuvre—a space not of limitation, but of liberation. This exquisite volume, published in conjunction with the Guggenheim Museum’s 2012 exhibition, is not merely a visual archive; it is a meditation on the elemental … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso: Black and White, Edited by Carmen Giménez
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso Drawings 1890–1921: Reinventing Tradition by Susan Grace Galassi and Marilyn McCully
Drawing deeply from the currents of academic rigour and the sensibility of an art historian steeped in modernism, Picasso Drawings 1890–1921: Reinventing Tradition by Susan Grace Galassi and Marilyn McCully emerges not merely as a catalogue raisonné but as a scholarly paradigm shift in our understanding of Picasso’s formative years. This review will examine the book’s structure, … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso Drawings 1890–1921: Reinventing Tradition by Susan Grace Galassi and Marilyn McCully
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso Line Drawings and Prints: 44 Illustrations
In Picasso Line Drawings and Prints: 44 Illustrations, Dover Publications presents a striking collection that serves as both a study in the simplicity of genius and an exploration of the profound communicative power of line. This concise yet evocative volume offers readers a glimpse into Pablo Picasso’s enduring legacy, showcasing a selection of drawings and prints … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso Line Drawings and Prints: 44 Illustrations
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso Lithographs: 61 Illustrations by Dover Publications
Picasso Lithographs: 61 Illustrations, published by Dover Publications, offers a curated glimpse into the lithographic genius of one of the 20th century’s most prolific artists. The book’s collection, while modest in volume, serves as an incisive study into Picasso’s evolving artistic philosophy, presenting a catalog of 61 works that oscillate between technical mastery and raw, … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Picasso Lithographs: 61 Illustrations by Dover Publications
An Obsession to Fill – Deconstructing Picasso’s Guernica
I feel that I became interested in Picasso's Guernica way before my time living in Spain. However, that might be where my obsession with it began, as I spent nearly every other Sunday in the special gallery for this painting at Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. I believe it was there in 1996 … Continue reading An Obsession to Fill – Deconstructing Picasso’s Guernica
A Symphony of Suffering: A Critical Analysis of Picasso’s Guernica
Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" stands as an iconic representation of the horrors of war and the human capacity for cruelty. Created in response to the bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War in 1937, the painting is a powerful and haunting masterpiece that transcends its historical context to evoke universal themes of human suffering and the destructive nature of conflict.
Arguing the Wabi-Sabi-ness of Picasso’s Pink Period Paintings
Picasso's Pink Period, which lasted from 1904 to 1906, is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the artist's career. During this time, Picasso's style underwent a dramatic shift, moving away from the dark, brooding paintings of his Blue Period and towards a brighter, more optimistic palette. The Pink Period is characterized by a distinctive … Continue reading Arguing the Wabi-Sabi-ness of Picasso’s Pink Period Paintings
Contemplating the Wabi-Sabi-ness of Picasso’s Blue Period Paintings
As an art historian, I have always been fascinated by the concept of wabi-sabi, a Japanese aesthetic that celebrates the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. While this aesthetic is often associated with traditional Japanese art, it can also be found in the work of Western artists who were influenced by Japanese culture, such as … Continue reading Contemplating the Wabi-Sabi-ness of Picasso’s Blue Period Paintings
Reflecting on the Wabi-Sabi-ness of Picasso’s Guernica
As an art teacher and artist, I find Pablo Picasso's Guernica to be one of the most compelling and thought-provoking works of art in history. The painting depicts the horrific bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, and it captures the chaos, pain, and destruction of war in a way that … Continue reading Reflecting on the Wabi-Sabi-ness of Picasso’s Guernica
The New Renaissance Mindset 