Quote:
Originally Posted by masraum
Wait! Picasso had a dachshund?
Serious Level-Up for Picasso! I love him now!  |
Las Meninas, Pablo Picasso, 1957
Picasso was never one to shy away from reinterpreting the masters, and one of his most famous series of works is his take on Las Meninas, originally painted by Diego Velázquez in 1656. This iconic Spanish painting, a complex and theatrical scene of the royal court, fascinated Picasso. In 1957, he created 58 variations of Las Meninas, breaking it down into his signature Cubist forms, deconstructing space, figures, and perspective in a way that only he could. Among these reimaginings, one particular figure remained unchanged — the dog. Picasso’s own dachshund, Lump, was a constant companion and muse, and in his Las Meninas studies, he often placed the dog front and center, playfully replacing Velázquez’s large mastiff with his small but confident Lump. It’s a rare case where Picasso’s wild abstraction gives way to personal affection.
Lump wasn’t just any pet; he was an essential part of Picasso’s life. Lump was treated like family, dining with the artist and sitting on his lap as he worked. The dachshund’s presence in Las Meninas is more than just a fun detail — it’s a symbol of Picasso’s deep love for dogs and how they naturally found their way into his art.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DH6K3qbpx1Z/?img_index=1
Lump first met Picasso on 19 April 1957 at La Californie, Picasso's hillside mansion in Cannes. His owner, David Douglas Duncan, had photographed Picasso for the first time during the previous year. On this occasion he chose to bring along Lump, as the Dachshund didn't get along with his other dog.[1] While having lunch with his future wife Jacqueline Roque and Duncan, Picasso enquired if the dog had ever had a plate of his own. When Duncan responded no, Picasso picked up a brush and paint that were on the table and painted a portrait of Lump on his own dinner plate. With the work dated and inscribed to Lump, he handed the plate to Duncan as a gift.[3] The dog felt immediately at home and stayed with Picasso for the next six years at La Californie, living with Picasso's Boxer Yan and a goat named Esmeralda.[1] Duncan spoke of Lump and Picasso, "This was a love affair. Picasso would take Lump in his arms. He would feed him from his hand. Hell, that little dog just took over. He ran the damn house."[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lump_(dog)