COLL-E 103 Picasso and the Creation of Modern Art (Kennedy)(A&H) (3 cr.)

Picasso’s name is almost synonymous with 20th-century art. His paintings are sought after by museums and collectors; his work commands multi-million dollar princes; he has even been played on screen by Anthony Hopkins. In this class we will examine various periods of Picasso’s long and extremely productive career, concentrating within each period on a few key works. Although Picasso’s style changed radically from one period to the next, there are on-going themes that connect the different phases of his art. Among these are his persistent use of images from art of the past, his mythologizing of women, his alternation between “high” and “low” art, and his willingness to both maintain and attack the classical ideal of beauty. These issues and others will offer continuity over the course of the semester.