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Dora Maar with a cat
Pablo Picasso • Painting, 1941, 128.3×95.3 cm
Description of the artwork «Dora Maar with a cat»
C Dora MaarPicasso was connected by the most complex and unusual relationships in his life, the basis of which was not only passion, but also intellectual rivalry. She, too, was an artist, spoke his native Spanish and shared his political views. Maar even helped Picasso in creating his most monumental canvas - Guerniki, and was the only person to capture the process of writing this famous painting on film. She was not so much a lover as an intellectual force that inspired Picasso to create many powerful and daring portraits. And one of them - "Dora Maar with a cat" - one of the most famous works of the artist.
Most portraits of Dora Maar are similar in execution technique: Picasso painted them in a deliberately distorted manner and rather gloomy color scheme, duplicated and multiplied parts of the face and body of his beloved, made them uneven and angular (1, 2, 3) It is believed that the manner of his writing was seriously influenced by the Second World War unfolding at that time in Europe. Picasso and Maar met in 1936 and lived together until the end of the war in Paris occupied by the Nazis, and, according to art historians, the artist saw the world like that then - distorted and broken. The painting "Dora Maar with a Cat" was painted in 1941, when the war began in France.
When creating a portrait of Dora Maar, sitting in an armchair with a kitten on his shoulder, Picasso used a surprisingly bright color palette unusual for this period and showed amazing attention to detail. He portrayed his beloved resembling either a certain pagan goddess, proudly sitting on the throne, or a witch with a cunning look, ready to cast a spell. This similarity is emphasized by the pointed hat of a woman and her long, predatory nails. And, of course, it's hard to imagine a self-respecting witch without a black cat. By the way, it was impeccable manicure and exquisite hats that were a kind of “visiting card” of Dora Maar and objects of her special pride. “Dora Maar with a Cat” was sold at a Sotheby's auction in 2006 to an anonymous collector for $ 95.2 million, and is still on the list of the most expensive works of art in history.
Author: Evgenia Sidelnikova
Most portraits of Dora Maar are similar in execution technique: Picasso painted them in a deliberately distorted manner and rather gloomy color scheme, duplicated and multiplied parts of the face and body of his beloved, made them uneven and angular (1, 2, 3) It is believed that the manner of his writing was seriously influenced by the Second World War unfolding at that time in Europe. Picasso and Maar met in 1936 and lived together until the end of the war in Paris occupied by the Nazis, and, according to art historians, the artist saw the world like that then - distorted and broken. The painting "Dora Maar with a Cat" was painted in 1941, when the war began in France.
When creating a portrait of Dora Maar, sitting in an armchair with a kitten on his shoulder, Picasso used a surprisingly bright color palette unusual for this period and showed amazing attention to detail. He portrayed his beloved resembling either a certain pagan goddess, proudly sitting on the throne, or a witch with a cunning look, ready to cast a spell. This similarity is emphasized by the pointed hat of a woman and her long, predatory nails. And, of course, it's hard to imagine a self-respecting witch without a black cat. By the way, it was impeccable manicure and exquisite hats that were a kind of “visiting card” of Dora Maar and objects of her special pride. “Dora Maar with a Cat” was sold at a Sotheby's auction in 2006 to an anonymous collector for $ 95.2 million, and is still on the list of the most expensive works of art in history.
Author: Evgenia Sidelnikova
