Artistic genius Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) achieved supremacy in every medium he worked in: painting, ceramics, sculptures, drawing and print making. As one of the most prolific artists at all times, he made a large volume of works in every medium.

Printmaking has been central in Picasso’s artistic life. He is one of the finest and most prolific print makers of all time. Today, I want to talk about ‘Minotauromachy’ which is often cited as the most important print of the twentieth century.

It is interesting to observe that often artists make their most astounding works at times that their personal lives are at a low. Picasso was no exception. 1935. Not quite yet divorced from his first wife Olga, and his new girl friend Marie-Therese already pregnant. It was without a doubt a difficult personal year for Picasso.

And so that year became a special artistic time for Picasso. He stopped painting early that year, and devoted himself to print making and writing poetry. It was also the year that Picasso produced what would become his most-famous print, the Minotauromachy — meaning ‘Minotaur’s battle’.

This large, intricate etching of a provocative scene is just brimming with Picasso’s personal symbolism. It is a multi-layered, universal allegory of good and evil, violence and innocence, suffering and salvation.

A multitude of actions are taking place in a small space. The artwork depicts a bull-headed Minotaur (Picasso’s alter ego throughout the ’30s). The animal is silhouetted against sea and sky. He stretches out one arm towards a young girl who stands calm in the face of his approach. She holds a lit candle in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. While the Minotaur appears threatening at first glance, he actually seems to shield himself from her candlelight.

In between them, is a terrified horse (a symbol for Marie-Thérèse) who rears on his hind legs. The horse has a gash in its belly, which seems to be caused by the Minotaur. Across the horse’s back lies an unconscious female matador. Her (pregnant?) body is half-naked and her face looks exactly like Marie-Thérèse. She holds a sword between the Minotaur and the horse. Also in the artwork is a man on a ladder against a wall, who observes the scene. His head is turned around facing out, giving him a crucified Christ-like appearance (a symbol for Picasso) Two young girls with doves (symbol of peace), looking through a window, also observe the scene.

The most important symbol is of course the minotaur itself. The minotaur stands for a oneness of man and bull. It appears increasingly in Picasso’s etchings of the 1930s. This being represents the duality in all men and in the artist himself; the opposing forces he wanted to put together as person and as artist.

Guernica, c.1937 Pablo Picasso

Two years later, Picasso adopts much of the print’s imagery for his world famous mural painting ‘Guernica’ – his outraged response to the Spanish civil war. The answer to ‘Why did Picasso paint Guernica?’ is kept for another article…

About Artist Astrid Lee

Astrid Lee makes spiritual art, for purposes of healing and personal growth and of course, visual contemplation! Review her work at http://www.astridlee.com. She is a frequent writer for http://www.eArtfair.com/blog , an online fine art magazine.

More Picasso Art Prints for Purchase

Joie de Vivre Pablo Picasso	Still Life with Candle, Pallette and … Pablo Picasso
Woman with Book Pablo Picasso	Mediterranean Landscape Pablo Picasso

“Let the numbers speak for themselves. In 1996 about 90,000 people visited Parisian galleries and antique trades. More than 13 million were recorded in museums.

Paris is the capital of France and art as well. Who dares to doubt it? There’s a great number of galleries: from the most traditional up to the modern ones which are in a constant search of new forms of work.

For instance, La Galerie Pascal Vanhoeke which introduced a curious system: you can borrow any exhibit paying just 3,8 % of its worth. And so for each item you take. In 28 months you can buy any picture or a sculpture of the modern author for the price you have paid during this time. Until you make up your mind you can keep it as long as you wish.

During the opening days, which take place every month, you can meet with the artists and professionals of the art world. A nice talk to the accompaniment of champagne or wine is a good way of spending your evening.

The International Exhibition Of Modern Painting is another must for a person who is interested in modern art. This is one of the key world exhibitions, hosting more than 150 galleries from all over the world every year. A wide range of works is displayed here: from Alechinsky to Picasso. A honourable country-guest is elected every year. The best way to keep up with the modern world of art is to visit this exhibition.

For antique-lovers there’s nothing like antique shops, which are in abundance represented in Paris. Antique furniture, jewelry, crockery, canvases…anything you like. Antiquarians are real treasure hunters. In search of a rare thing they don’t spare time and effort, exploring collection after collection, address after address. A long period of study, affiliation and restoration follows. Only after that can the antiquarian item appear in the shop. So buying the picture in such a shop one can be sure he purchases the original.

Besides don’t miss a chance to visit the auctions where one can buy rare things. The majority of them are situated in Le Louvre des Antiquaires (the antiquarian louver).

Paris is a real treat for the true connoisseurs of art. There’s only one problem: the choice is so great that one can’t help buying more and more! ”

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/art-for-arts-sake-its-all-about-paris-225475.html

About the Author:
Paris hotels

“Block printing, as name suggests, is the use of wooden blocks in the process of dyeing and printing. In India, block printing has been in practice since 12th century. Even before that in 6th century BC, there are references that India was maintaining trade relationship in cotton with Babylon. Thus we get the idea that India has very old heritage of cotton clothes. Block printing is so renowned for use of rich and vibrant colors. Traditionally, natural vegetable colors were used in this process but now-a-days synthetic colors are also in use.

There are three principal techniques of block printing:

a) Direct Printing: In this technique of block printing, first, the cotton or silk fabric is washed to make it free of starch. Then it is bleached softly, if the natural grey color of the fabric is not required. Wooden blocks, also known as “bunta” are undergone minute designed carving at the bottom. These wooden blocks are used to print the fabric with the help of already prepared colors. Printing is first done at the outer sides of the fabric and then follows printing of inner areas. First the bigger details are covered then the smaller details are put according to the design.

b) Resist Printing: This is the technique which in fact, resists the dye to be applied on some particular areas of the fabric. The prints are designed in such a way that at some places there is no need of dyeing. To facilitate this, a mixture of clay and resin is applied on the areas where dyeing is not wanted. Dye though reaches the protected areas through cracks producing a rippled pattern. But it is taken as beautification. Then, the dyed fabric is washed. Further, the remaining areas of the fabric are normally block printed.

c) Discharge Printing: In this technique of block printing. First, the fabric is dyed in the desired color. Then, a chemical is applied to some regions of the fabric to fade or remove the color effect. Further, these faded regions are again dyed but in different color, so that a different color effect is produced.

Block Printing is done in various parts of India. Main centers of block printing in Gujarat and Rajasthan are Ahmedabad, Sanganer, Bagru, Farrukhabad and Pethapur. Ajrakh prints and Lepakshi prints are some of the most popular block prints.

For more comprehensive information on Indian Block Prints or any other craft form of India, please visit India Crafts.”

Article Tags: Blocks, Cotton, Silk, Block Printing, Indian Block Printing, Sanganer Prints, Bagru Prints, Farrukhabad Prints, Pethapur Prints, Ajrakh Prints, Lepakshi Prints, Direct Printing, Resist Printing, Discharge Printing, Wooden Blocks, Dyeing Technques On Cotton

Article Source http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/indian-block-printing-three-main-techniques-230323.html

About the Author

http://www.india-crafts.com is a website covering all kinds of art and craft forms of India. Here, you will come to know about jewelry, dresses, sculptures, religions, paintings and various other topics on India. You can see here the lists of the manufacturers, exporters and suppliers of an array of handicrafts too.

It is the Maeght Foundation, in Saint Paul de Vence, in the French Riviera. After this afternoon’s sight of gorgeous sculptures by Miro and Giacometti, to name a few, as well as Chagall’s huge painting ‘La Vie/Vive”, I decided this museum is definitely on the ‘worthwhile’ list.

The museum with the private collection of exquisite world famous art of the Maeght Foundation is delightfully set adjacent to the pretty medieval hill-top village.

Prior to today, my list included the following mega museums, that are useful to both the art scholar and the general public interested in art.

Best Art Museums in Europe

1. The Louvre , Paris, France
2. Museum Matisse, Nice, France
3. Fondation Vasarely, Aix en Provence, France
4. Van Gogh museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands ** MOST FAVORITE MUSEUM
5. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
6. Kroller Muller museum , Otterlo, Netherlands
7. Museum Boijmans van Beuningen , Rotterdam, Netherlands
8. Bauhaus Archive, Berlin, Germany
9. Kunstmuseum basel, Basel, Germany
10. Museum für Moderne Kunst, , Frankfurt am Main, Germany
11. Pinakothek der moderne, Munich, Germany
12. Doria pamphilj museum, Rome, Italy
13. Gallerie d’arte moderna e contemporanea, Ferrara, Italy
14. Museo di San Marco, Florence, Italy
15. Prado museum, Madrid, Spain
16. Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, Bilbao, Spain
17. National gallery, London, England
18. Tate gallery, London , England
19. Outsider Art Museum, Moscow, russia
20. State Hermitage museum, St. petersburg, Russia

If you have any suggestions for me to consider other museums in Europe, I welcome your feedback and contribution!