Two self-portraits, “Le Marin” and “Buste d'homme Écrivant”, created by Pablo Picasso twenty-eight years apart depicted the mastermind and introspections of an artist under unique circumstances.
Created in 1943 “Le Marin” portrays the agony of the artist under the risk of being sent to a Nazi concentration camp during Second World War. Picasso was living in Paris while the Germans occupied the city, when he painted this work portraying himself as a distressed and bothered man, he was exposing the agony of being constantly harassed by the Gestapo. The cubist composition of the artwork in which the silhouette of the face is made out of multiple geometric shapes captions the inquietude of the artist.
Twenty-eight years later, Picasso painted “Buste d'homme Écrivant” a self-portrait showcasing a reflective seated man, with a pen and book in hand. This rare painting perhaps the last self-portrait he ever painted is intended to represent his powerful presence as a human being and as an influential artist of his time, contrary to “Le Marin” where the artist is being represented struck by the Nazi’s terror and the uncertainty of the times.
“Buste d'homme Écrivant” is also an expression of the mixture of styles that characterized his oeuvre by the end of his lifetime. Once again, the artist depict himself utilizing the cubism to configure the expression of a strong look reminisces of a visible wisdom, satisfaction, and quietude of a man and at the same time the strength and outstanding productivity of the artist’s final years, a period of time when he created a remarkable body of work that signified his prolific and long career.The remarkable importance of this piece is reflected in it’s very impressive curriculum that cites over 15 publications and 20 museums shows.
“Le Marin” is expected to realize $70 million at auction in New York on May 15 as part of a sale of Impressionist and Modern Art by Christie’s in a year when the Picasso’s art market is expected to be a “Picasso’s Billion Dollar Year”.
“Buste d'homme Écrivant” is currently on view at Gary Nader Art Centre.
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