Analysis Of Picasso s Arte And Ballet Russes

Introduction: Prior to completing Three Musicians, Pablo Picasso was associated with the refined world of ballet as he became the set designer for multiple performances across Europe. Picasso took inspiration from his experiences with commedia dell’arte and Ballet Russes to complete Three Musicians in Fontainebleau, France during the summer of 1921. Picasso’s influence with theater is evident in this painting as he depicts himself as the Harlequin, which is a common motif found in commedia dell’arte that ties in with the Rose Period from his earlier life. Not only does the Harlequin symbolize theatre and Picasso’s alter-ego but the Perriot and Monk figures are cubist manifestations of his two poet friends, one of whom passed away. Despite†¦show more content†¦It is not enough to say that Three Musicians is a significant piece of synthetic cubism because there are a lot of paintings that were created with a similar aesthetic. For instance, Georges Braque made Fruit Dish and Glass in 1912 and it is similar to the collage elements found in Picasso’s Three Musicians. To further understand why Three Musicians is relevant to synthetic cubism we must assess both the context and visual qualities of the figures that make up most of the composition. Picasso’s Three Musicians is a prime example of Cubist style. To fully understand cubism, a person needs to understand that the subject of the artwork becomes a sequence of planes, lines, and arcs. Another aspect of Cubism art has been described as a reinvention of an artist’s analyzation of shapes. This analyzation of shapes show how artists subject and reinvent them on a canvas. (The Free Library) Shapes and colors are used by Picasso to reinforce the flatness of Three Musicians. Objects in the painting like the patterned green wallpaper and the brick-red floor are made up of shapes. These shapes interlock with the other figures of the painting. These shapes are also not painted with highlights and shadows. Which help them not to be overlooked or recede behind the musicians. The painted image of the table and music also have a very flat look to them. since the music is not shown in perspective but as if it were held flat against