Pablo Ruiz Picasso

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Rosetta Stone and all the spoils of war stuff the British brought back from a squillion years ago. The country's asked for it back and the Brit's said Nah.

Thieving bastages, those Brits.

Some of that in the big museum in NYC, too.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Don McLean wrote such a touching song in "Vincent." I think he really captured it.

That is eye opening for me. Had no idea and I have heard of the song but never the title. Now it has an entire different meaning. Thanks

[Crowbob]

Vincent was very spiritual. His first career was as a pastor which didn’t last long. He was so weird he was let go. His brother Theo was an art dealer who kept Vincent alive by sending him money once in a while which Vincent gave away to poor people and prostitutes. One of whom is pictured below.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by javadog

Picasso was far more successful in his career, as measured by the art he sold. That counts for something, right?

Not much in my book.

Success in an effort doesn't always mean "great" at the effort. It could be more of a popularity contest, marketing, a function of knowing the right person, etc...

It may be one factor if it's one of several.

[Steve Carlton]

Vincent wasn't a very good promoter of his work.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by javadog

Thieving bastages, those Brits.

Some of that in the big museum in NYC, too.

Greenland still wants that meteor back.

[Crowbob]

Picasso died in ‘73 with an estimated estate over $300 million in ‘73 dollars. He was notorious for buying huge farmhouses, chateaus and what nots. None of which he ever sold but rather gave away to friends and family.

In the early days he would exchange pictures for suits. His first two exhibits were disasters. Gertrude Stein was an early benefactor.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

The mystery is that there have been people born to such destiny. There's really no good explanation as to why Vincent (or Pablo or any transcendental artist in any capacity) left behind masterpieces for all of us to enjoy as we will.

If you like Pablo better than Salvadore, or Dürer more than Vermeer, your opinion is valid and correct and no one can tell you otherwise.

I like this thread; people can be moved and awed by visual interpretation in all different ways- and the examples posted are all hallmarks of the joy of art and the celebration of the artist.

Another, similar thought of mine is that not only is there a "butt for every seat" (kind of your point above). But your and my butts are likely to change over time, so the butt that fit your seat when you were 16 may be completely different from the butt that fit your seat when you were 25 and again 45 and so on. Not everyone goes through major transformation like that over the years, but some folks do.

I appreciate all sorts of stuff now that I did not appreciate when I was younger. I feel like I'm more open minded (in some ways, at least) than I was when I was younger. (likely less in other ways)

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Vincent wasn't a very good promoter of his work.

Somebody discovered one of his early paintings that was used to patch a hole in a barn. As the story goes, he had traded it for food from a farmer who felt pity for the starving, weirdo artist.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by masraum

Another, similar thought of mine is that not only is there a "butt for every seat" (kind of your point above). But your and my butts are likely to change over time, so the butt that fit your seat when you were 16 may be completely different from the butt that fit your seat when you were 25 and again 45 and so on. Not everyone goes through major transformation like that over the years, but some folks do.

I appreciate all sorts of stuff now that I did not appreciate when I was younger. I feel like I'm more open minded (in some ways, at least) than I was when I was younger. (likely less in other ways)

Your post reminded me of a youngish fellow (25-30 y.o.) I saw at a swimming pool a few years ago; his back was covered with an elaborate, large, full color tattoo of some obscure comic book cover. I'm left to forever wonder if later on he had a major transformation on whether that decision was a good one.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Somebody discovered one of his early paintings that was used to patch a hole in a barn. As the story goes, he had traded it for food from a farmer who felt pity for the starving, weirdo artist.

Was it this story? https://lost-treasures-intolerance-greed.com/van-gogh-given-chickens-paintings-destroyed-lost.html

There's also folklore that the son of his doctor used one of his father's van Goghs for target practice with a friend.

Clearly, Vincent was a hot mess. It probably contributed significantly to his work, but what a price to pay.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4350215/

[Crowbob]

What is also fairly unique to Vincent and no doubt contributed to his position in art was the hundreds of letters he had written to his brother Theo. These letters and other correspondences from the hand of Vincent is collected in a volume called ‘Dear Theo’. Vincent was in no way intellectually compromised.

However, there is credible evidence that the famous psychotic break culminating in his presenting his partially-severed ear to a female ‘friend’ was preceded by episodes of Vincent eating his paints which, of course, contained cadmium, lead and arsenic.

[Steve Carlton]

There's a rumor that Paul Gauguin (the artist), his longtime friend and fencing ace, sliced off his ear during a fight, and they agreed to keep the secret.

[Crowbob]

Lately, the narrative that Vincent shot himself is also under question. Apparently, Vincent and his off-putting weirdness was being harassed by a group of boys, with a stolen gun, who followed him into a field. Vincent attempted to take the gun and got shot.

On his deathbed, Vincent refused to implicate the boys.

[Crowbob]

Gauguin was an *******. He fancied himself as a swashbuckling sailor, abandoned his wife and abuncha kids and skipped out to Tahiti and subsequently died of syphilis.

The story goes that whilst they shared a room, Paul stole the pittance Vincent had managed to reserve for his regular bouts with absinthe thus precipitating their famous fight. Even so, Vincent was devastated by Gauguin’s abrupt departure.

[Steve Carlton]

I'm thoroughly enjoying your knowledge and posts, Crowbob. I think I know a little, and touch base with Google. You appear to know this from long-term interest.

[jim72911t]

Pablo Picasso was never called an a55hole.

[Crowbob]

Thank you, Steve.

Gauguin was a banker but hated money and the bourgeoisie. He and Vincent argued well into many early mornings about color, form and what painting is all about. Vincent loved that man.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by jim72911t

Pablo Picasso was never called an a55hole.

As far as we know, he wasn’t. However, the evidence suggests his proclivity to spend time with females other than his wife or current mistresses, he may have been.

[JackDidley]

I know zero about art but someone I really liked gave me this in 1970 . Its been on my wall since then.





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