Portrait of Pablo Picasso in the XXI century

The portrait of Pablo Picasso was painted by Dali in New York, USA , for an exhibition in the Binu Gallery, which lasted from November 25, 1947 to January 31, 1947. The painting was written by the artist specifically for the permanent collection of the Theater-Museum in Figueres , Dali pre-determined her place in the center of the Fish Shops hall, where the painting is to this day, opposite the “Soft self-portrait with fried bacon” of 1941 ^[1] .

Pablo Picasso played an important role in the development of Dali. As a young artist, Dali sought the attention of a master who had already taken place, so when he first came to Paris , he first rushed not to the Louvre , but to the Picasso workshop. Picasso, of course, felt admiration and even worship before his skill from his young and talented compatriot, and even helped him, paying, in particular, the participation of a budding artist in an exhibition in New York, lending him $ 500 ^[2] .

The portrait was created 21 years after the meeting of artists, art historians note that their relationship at that moment was already pretty cool. Some believe that this portrait conveys the whole problematic and contradictory attitude of Dali to his senior compatriot. However, the author gave his work a special name, indicating in parentheses that Picasso is among the main geniuses of mankind ^[2] .

It should be noted that Dali practically did not create portraits of other artists, in his work there are only two of them - these are portraits of Velazquez and Picasso ^[3] .

On the canvas, Picasso is depicted in the form of a monster with goat horns, while his body is depicted with clearly feminine signs, art critics find this allusion to the fact that the loving Picasso in relations with women was a monster, despot and tyrant ^[4] . Another hint of love and passion can be seen in a long spoon placed in a non- mandolin - a symbol of sensuality and love ardor ^[5] .

The depicted gravestone with a carnation symbolizes “the death of Picasso for art”, that is what Dali thought, accusing Picasso of glorifying ugliness ^[4] . The image in the picture and another flower - jasmine , indicates the origin of Picasso, who was born in Malaga , one of the symbols of which is precisely jasmine. The heavy stone cobblestone with which the symbolic head of Pablo is pressed down probably indicates a huge burden of responsibility that lies with the artist, and which will soon crush him ^[4] .

Picasso did not react at all to the writing of his portrait ^[6] . He never mentioned the name of Salvador Dali, did not talk about the work, did not respond to his messages, considering them to be “advertising gadgets”. Dali himself said that the emperor was depicted in the picture. Arrogant, cruel, sentimental ^[6] .

• Description of the painting on the website of the Dali Theater-Museum