(10) Picasso with Gerda and Gino

 

Somehow I didn't like the Schiele above the Wegener (see post 11), and  then I found some old art cards which I thought fit better into this semi abstract scheme. Though Gerda Wegener's painting is hardly abstract, a little graphic perhaps. Well, I found a Picasso from 1908 who painted the "Harlequin's Family" (on the back of the card it said "Circus Family); they do not look one bit like any type of family. I can make out 2 creatures with arms and legs and a flag. In fact I am rather annoyed by that big black empty space on the upper left hand corner.   However it's a nice composition.

"The Silent Dancer" below is from 1912 and painted by the Italian artist Gino Severini (1883-1966) who did a lot of wonderful cubist works, many very coforful. Our dancer is also called "Ballerina in Blue" which makes more sense, though to me the dress is rather a Flamenco one.

I guess I preferred this trio over the one from Post 11 because of the color combination. Schiele's style was way too "in your face" compared to Wegener's delicate color scheme and topic.

I like finding similarities. In any case, I had neither heard of Gerda Wegener, nor of Gino Severini before, so exploring them was certainly educational. I cannot state enough how bloody boring our art museums have become, showcasing the same candidates over and over again across the globe.