Picasso - Creator and Destroyer - Arianna Huffington

 

My lovely wife picked this book up at some point and I stumbled upon it in between other readings and it looked reasonably fascinating, particularly seeing as I know little about the man. Of course, I know Arianna from her Huffington Post, and her writing style is quite compelling - as is her subject.

A child prodigy with artistic parents who recognized his talent early on, Pablo was somewhat pampered and doted on, especially by his father, and his early works are truly striking. With little care for rules or traditions, beginning in his teens, Picasso moved around as much as he could afford to - which, for a number of years, wasn't much as a traditional starving artist. Eventually, though, a critic recognized his growth and bought a number of paintings, which allowed Pablo some independence for years.

Picasso is known for his passions and Huffington at least hints that his sexuality may have been fluid, at least at times, although women seem to be his main attraction. Of course, his art was his strongest passion, and he often lived simply to paint, although his debaucheries were equally often a distraction. As is hinted in the book's title, he was also ready to destroy any artistic traditions and with some heavy influence from African "primitivism", he creates Cubism. 

This was a fast-moving time for the arts and salons came'n'went and evolved and Picasso had his own cadre of friends'n'admirers and Huffington quotes him extensively as he would talk about his philosophy of art and what he hope to accomplish. He quickly finds'n'holds onto fame'n'fortune and moves through innumerable women and innumerable pieces of art. His relationships with women'n'friends come'n'go, although some may last for years and some may be resurrected at different times in his life, depending on his needs. He is obviously extremely self-centered and seems to take much more than he gives at any given time - his relationships with women, in particular, but with friends, as well, can be truly reprehensible at times - most of the time, in fact.

The books is not a critique of his works, although significant ones are mentioned, but a biography and while Arianna seems to be trying to be even-handed throughout, she does seem to have her favorites among Picasso's women and she has no problem critiquing the man's many personality flaws. 

Again, not rock'n'roll, although Pablo's attitudes certainly were reflected among many later rockers. Still, his work manages to excite'n'entice to this day and he was a major influencer of pop culture. This is a fine review of the man's life.