[masraum]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

‘Getting’ art is like learning to read. I look at Arabic writing and don’t get any of it. At all. In either direction. But because I know the English language, spelling and lots of other things I can look at an English word and get it.

First of all, there is representational and non-representational art. Though Picasso did some abstract work, most of his art is representational. When you look at it you recognize what it is. Even though it’s distorted and misconnected, you know what it is and what it is representing. Abstract art, OTOH is nonrepresentational. It is not recognizable as anything real or tangible. It’s an idea, an emotion an abstraction.

Picasso’s weird portraits and faces, with both eyes on the same side of the head or sideways and even upside down are still recognizable as eyes. But why so weird. One of the many, many ideas Picasso brought to us was showing something with many dimensions while using only two. Those weird eyes are a way to see something from two perspectives rather than one.

This-Painter and Model, 1970-is clearly representational. You know what you’re looking at. Especially dead center. But with the painter’s dark hair, eyes and nose you know what he’s thinking. This is not abstract art:

2 things
1) I actually kind of get that image, at least, much more than a lot of his stuff.
2) "with the painter’s dark hair, eyes and nose you know what he’s thinking" Nope, not a clue.

I haven't studied his work that much, but based on the stuff that I've seen, it seems like the level of distortion in his work increased over time.

I believe this is a progression over time of his self portrait.


I can get behind this one.


But then some others...





But, that's OK. Not everyone will get EVERY piece of art. Art is, like so many things, subjective. Not every man is going to have the same opinion about the physical attributes of every woman (not art, but similar vibe). Not every person is going to have their emotions tickled by the same piece of music, sculpture, painting, etc.... If we all liked the same stuff, this place would be boring.