Leo Martínez
Pablo Picasso's Blue Period, between 1900 and 1904, marked a significant shift in his artistic style, with the artist exploring sombre themes of loneliness, poverty, despair, and female incarceration. The death of his friend Casagemas in 1901 triggered a period of severe depression, reflected in his use of a predominantly blue palette and the depiction of social outsiders, including prisoners, beggars, and the destitute. This period saw the creation of iconic works such as The Old Guitarist, La Vie, and Portrait of Soler. The Blue Period was a pivotal phase in Picasso's career, influencing his subsequent artistic explorations and solidifying his standing as a modern artist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | 1900-1904 |
| Colours | Monochromatic shades of blue and blue-green |
| Subject Matter | Beggars, street urchins, the old and frail, the blind, prostitutes, drunks, prisoners, circus people, and the poor |
| Themes | Loneliness, poverty, despair, charity, female incarceration, birth, death, redemption, daily life, sexual incompatibility, and artistic creativity |
| Inspiration | The death of his friend Casagemas, his own emotional turmoil and financial destitution, a visit to a women's prison in Paris, Symbolist painters like Paul Gauguin, and the exhibition of Fauve works |
| Notable Works | Casagemas in His Coffin, The Blue Room, The Old Guitarist, Portrait of Soler, Las dos hermanas, Portrait of Suzanne Bloch, Harlequin and his Companion, La Vie, The Frugal Repast, The Blindman's Meal, and The Soup |
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What You'll Learn
Influences on Picasso's Blue Period
The Blue Period of Pablo Picasso lasted from 1900 or 1901 to 1904, during which he painted sombre, essentially monochromatic paintings in shades of blue and blue-green, with other colours occasionally warming the palette. The paintings completed during this period are considered some of his most popular works, though he struggled to sell them at the time.
The Blue Period was marked by Picasso's interest in portraying society's poor and outcast, with cool blue tones reflecting the anguish and despair of his subjects. The artist himself was suffering from depression during this time, and his work reflected his own blue mood. The desolation of social outsiders, including prisoners, beggars, circus people, and the sick and hungry, were recurring themes. Blindness is also a recurrent theme in Picasso's Blue Period works, represented in "The Blindman's Meal" (1903) and in the portrait of "Celestina" (1903).
A significant influence on Picasso's Blue Period paintings was his visit to a women's prison called St. Lazare in Paris, where nuns served as guards. "The Two Sisters", for example, demonstrates how Picasso mixed daily reality with Christian iconography. The colour blue symbolised Mary, the Mother of God, and the meeting, or visitation, refers to the meeting between Mary and the mother of John the Baptist.
The exhibition of Fauve works, particularly those of Henri Matisse, also influenced Picasso during this period. He responded to the new avant-garde developments of the Fauve painters in Paris by exploring new directions and creating his ground-breaking style.
The Blue Period was followed by Picasso's Rose Period, during which his psychological state improved and his work became more joyful and vibrant, with pinks and other warm hues reflecting his shift in mood.
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Blue Period subject matter
The subject matter of Picasso's Blue Period (1900/1901–1904) is often associated with the artist's emotional turmoil and financial instability. The works from this period are characterised by sombre scenes of misery and misfortune, exploring symbolic, philosophical, and humanitarian themes.
The death of Picasso's close friend Carlos Casagemas in 1901 is thought to have had a profound impact on the artist, with several paintings from the latter part of 1901 serving as posthumous portraits of Casagemas. These include "Casagemas in His Coffin", considered the first painting of the Blue Period, and "La Vie" (1903). The influence of Casagemas's death is also evident in "La mort de Casagemas", completed early in the year following his suicide, which, despite its bright hues, is thought to have marked a shift towards the blue palette that would dominate Picasso's subsequent works.
The Blue Period is also marked by Picasso's focus on social outsiders, including prisoners, beggars, circus people, and the poor and despairing. This interest may have been influenced by a visit to the Saint Lazare women's prison in Paris, where nuns served as guards, as well as the artist's own experiences of poverty and instability. Works from this period that depict beggars include "Crouching Beggarwomen" (1902) and "The Blindman's Meal" (1903). Blindness is another recurrent theme, appearing in "The Blindman's Meal", "The Frugal Repast" (1904), and the portrait of "Celestina" (1903).
Other frequent subjects include female nudes and mothers with children, with solitary figures dominating his Blue Period works. Works featuring mothers with children include "Mother and Child by a Fountain" (1901) and "Desemparats (Maternité, Mère et enfant au fichu, Motherhood)" (1903). The female form is also explored in works such as "Woman Ironing" (1901) and "Femme aux Bras Croisés (Woman with Folded Arms)" (1901-1902).
The Blue Period is considered a defining moment in Picasso's artistic career, reflecting the artist's melancholy nature during a difficult period in his life. The works from this period are now some of his most popular, although he struggled to sell them at the time.
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The Blue Period's starting point
The Blue Period of Pablo Picasso, lasting between 1900 and 1904, was marked by the artist's use of a restricted palette, with shades of blue, blue-green, and grey dominating his works. The starting point of this period is somewhat uncertain, with suggestions placing its origin in Spain in the spring of 1901 or in Paris in the latter half of the same year.
The death of Picasso's friend Carlos Casagemas by suicide in Paris on February 17, 1901, is considered a pivotal event that influenced the onset of the Blue Period. Picasso himself later recalled, "I started painting in blue when I learned of Casagemas's death." However, art historian Helene Seckel cautions against oversimplifying this connection, noting that Picasso was not present when Casagemas died and that his artistic output at the time was still vibrant and exuberant.
The painting "Casagemas in His Coffin," completed in 1901, is often regarded as the first work of the Blue Period. During this time, Picasso's psychological state worsened, and he sank into a severe depression. His works began to reflect his emotional state, with blue tones becoming more prominent and themes of loneliness, poverty, and despair emerging.
Picasso's Blue Period paintings often depicted beggars, street urchins, the old and frail, the blind, and prostitutes, reflecting his experiences of relative poverty and instability. He was also influenced by his visit to a women's prison in Paris, where nuns served as guards, blending daily reality with Christian iconography in his works.
The Blue Period culminated in the gloomy allegorical painting "La Vie," created in 1903 and currently housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art. This period was followed by Picasso's Rose Period, where he transitioned to more joyful and vibrant works, emphasizing the use of pinks and warm hues.
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Blue Period works
The Blue Period, lasting from 1900 or 1901 to 1904, was a time of emotional turmoil and financial destitution for Picasso, who was struggling as an unrecognized artist living in poverty in Paris. The death of his close friend Carlos Casagemas in 1901 is thought to have had a profound effect on Picasso and inspired him to begin painting in shades of blue. The use of blue was commonly used in symbolist paintings in Spain and France and was often affiliated with the emotions of melancholy and despair.
The Blue Period is considered a defining moment in Picasso's artistic career, during which he produced many works addressing symbolic, philosophical, and humanitarian themes. Solitary figures dominate his Blue Period works, with themes of loneliness, poverty, and despair pervading the paintings. One of Picasso's most well-known works from this period is 'The Old Guitarist'. Other major works include 'Portrait of Soler' (1903), 'Las dos hermanas' (1904), 'La Vie' (1903), 'The Frugal Repast' (1904), 'The Blindman's Meal' (1903), 'Portrait of Suzanne Bloch' (1904), 'Harlequin and his Companion' (1901), 'Woman with Folded Arms' (1901-02), 'The Glass of Beer' (1901-02), 'Woman with Bangs' (1902), 'Melancholy Woman' (1902-03), 'The Soup' (1903), 'Motherhood' (1903), 'Mother and Child by a Fountain' (1901), and 'Sleeping Drinker' (1902).
In addition to these paintings, Picasso also created prints in the style of the Blue Period, such as 'The Embrace' and 'The Two Saltimbanques'. These prints are considered some of Picasso's most valuable and desirable prints today.
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Post-Blue Period
The Blue Period, a time of emotional turmoil and financial destitution, was followed by Picasso's Rose Period, during which he created more joyful and vibrant works, emphasising pinks and other warm hues. This period was succeeded by his Cubist Period, and it was only after this that Picasso's work began to show the playfulness that would become a prominent feature of his output.
During the Blue Period, Picasso's work was influenced by his visit to a women's prison in Paris, where nuns served as guards. This experience informed paintings such as 'The Two Sisters', in which Picasso mixed daily reality with Christian iconography. The colour blue symbolised Mary, the Mother of God, and the meeting, or visitation, refers to the meeting between Mary and the mother of John the Baptist.
The desolation of social outsiders, including prisoners, beggars, circus people, and the poor, is a recurring theme in Picasso's Blue Period works. This interest in social outsiders continued into his Rose Period. Blindness is another recurrent theme in Picasso's Blue Period paintings, represented in works such as 'The Blind Man's Meal' (1903) and 'The Frugal Repast' (1904).
In terms of technique, Picasso's Blue Period works are characterised by a predominantly monochromatic palette of blues and blue-greens. However, it is worth noting that the starting point of this period is uncertain, and it may have begun in Spain in the spring of 1901 or in Paris in the second half of the year.
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Frequently asked questions
The Blue Period of Picasso is the period between 1900 and 1904 when he painted essentially monochromatic paintings in shades of blue and blue-green.
The Blue Period of Picasso was inspired by his own emotional turmoil and financial destitution. The suicide of his close friend, Carles Casagemas, in 1901, is thought to have had a profound effect on Picasso and his work.
During his Blue Period, Picasso explored symbolic, philosophical, and humanitarian themes. His paintings depicted beggars, street urchins, the old and frail, the blind, and other social outsiders. The desolation of these subjects and their everyday hardships are communicated through the use of blue hues.
Some of Picasso's most well-known works from his Blue Period include "The Old Guitarist", "Portrait of Soler" (1903), "Las dos hermanas" (1904), "La Vie" (1903), "The Frugal Repast" (1904), "The Blindman's Meal" (1903), "Mother and Child by a Fountain" (1901), and "The Blue Room" (1901).
Yes, in addition to paintings, Picasso created prints in the style of his Blue Period. These prints, such as "The Embrace" and "The Two Saltimbanques" (also known as "Harlequin and his Companion"), are among his most valuable and desirable works in today's market.
