Analysis of Les Demoiselles d’Avignon & The Scream
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso
Classification
Figurative oil painting on canvas, 2.43 x 2.33 m.
Composition
The work depicts an interior scene with five nude female figures. The women are arranged in a shallow space, lacking depth. Their bodies are fragmented and distorted, with bulging eyes that convey a sense of sadness. Picasso’s fascination with primitive sculpture is evident in the figures’ forms.
Thematic Content
The initial idea for the work was a realistic depiction of a brothel scene, but the final version shows only the five nude women. The two central figures with raised arms dominate the composition. The figures on the right evoke a sense of fatigue and condemnation of life. The fragmented forms suggest a break with traditional artistic canons.
Stylistic Language
This work is considered a precursor to Cubism. Cubism involves the application of geometrical principles and techniques, including:
- Rejection of artificial perspective through overlapping planes
- Dissociation of color and form through juxtaposition
- Emphasis on the object by depicting it in its permanence
- Rejection of dynamism
Cubism also incorporates elements of Classicism, such as statism and a tendency towards stability.
Function and Possible Significance
The work was conceived as an allegorical satire related to erotic and literary themes. The masks worn by some figures may represent philosophical doubt or a commentary on the primitive.
Antecedents and Consequences
The figures are influenced by El Greco, Ingres, and Cézanne. The work’s transcendence is extraordinary, and it is considered the initiator of Cubism, breaking with realism and the laws of perspective.
Identification of the Work and the Author
The work is titled “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” and its author is Pablo Picasso. Picasso’s personality is synonymous with contemporary art. His earlier “pink period” featured softer themes and colors, but from 1906, he began breaking with tradition in his “black period,” culminating in “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” Realistic details were replaced with glued paper and other materials, and formal simplification became more pronounced. Picasso’s capacity for renewal continued throughout his career.
The Scream by Edvard Munch
Classification
Non-figurative painting, tempera and pastel on wood, 0.91 x 0.735 m.
Composition
The work depicts a figure, possibly male or female, in the foreground. The figure’s gaze is directed beyond the viewer. They lean on a railing, hands covering their ears, and mouth open in a gesture of despair. Two figures walk away in the background, isolated from the main figure. The landscape consists of a swirling sky and a bridge with two boats and a church steeple. Undulating bands suggest the sound waves of a scream emanating from the figure’s mouth. The lack of symmetry and distorted figure contribute to a feeling of unease.
Thematic Content
The painting can be interpreted as a self-portrait of the artist confronting the loneliness of life and death.
Stylistic Language
The work’s style exhibits characteristics of Expressionism, such as contrasting color masses and heightened emotion. Expressionism emerged around 1910 in Germany as a reaction against Impressionism. The Scream also shows influences from Cubism and Futurism.
Chronology and Context
The Scream is considered a precursor to Expressionism. Munch painted it in Paris, a center of contemporary thought and social protest.
Function and Possible Significance
Munch aimed to depict the hidden depths of the human soul. The Scream reflects the artist’s inner world and his experience of loneliness. It can be seen as both a self-portrait and a universal representation of human anguish.
Antecedents and Consequences
Munch’s earlier works, such as “The Death Chamber” and “Karl Johann Street at Night,” foreshadow The Scream. The painting’s influence can be seen in the many versions Munch created and in the work of other Expressionist artists, such as the Die Brücke group.
Identification of the Work and the Author
The work is titled “The Scream” and was created by Edvard Munch. Munch’s painting rejected the neutral themes of Impressionism, focusing instead on expressing moods and emotions. His other notable works include “The Dance of Life” and “Puberty.”