Picasso and Matisse
With my passion and love for art I wanted to learn more about two of the greatest artist, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. They were two passionate men with extreme talent but, they had a rocky relationship which I found interesting. I created an art piece and a play describing their relationship. I hope you enjoy what I've created!
Art
This piece is titled "Friendship". In this piece I took a drawing by Picasso and a piece by Matisse and photoshopped them together to create one abstract final product. In the blue is Picasso's art called "War and Peace". In yellow is Matisse's art a line drawing of a women. I chose this style because they both did line drawing frequently. To create the print I carved the idea into a soft linoleum block. I then pressed the block into clay and had it fired. This isn't finished yet, I still have to glaze fire to get the glasses look on my final piece.
English and Social Studies
I created a play detailing Picasso and Matisse's relationship. I thought this was a really good way to portray their relationship because, the interaction between them really shows how they truly were. Below is that play.
PICASSO AND MATISSE
France
Art Gallery
P Picasso- I wonder where Henri is?
*Henri walks in*
H Matisse- Hm, hello Pablo, how are you?
P Picasso- Oh, hello. I’m doing great. I’m just waiting for a painting to be bought…
H Matisse- Are you sure one will even be purchased?
P Picasso- Positive.
H Matisse- So which of your paintings did you bring?
P Picasso- Les Femme d’Alger, Golden Muse, and Femme Assise.
H Matisse- Ah, all of your ‘unique’ abstract pieces.
P Picasso- Don’t start with your opinions again. Do you want a big argument like we had 5 years ago?
H Matisse- You’re referring to the conflict we had because you believe your opinion is the correct one. Don’t forget you can’t take any kind of criticism.
P Picasso- My art is beautiful, creative, and it stands out. I created an entire genre of art! What have you done?
H Matisse- That Cubism art you do is ridiculous!
P Picasso- You’re impressionistic art is too mainstream you’ll never branch out…
Narrator- After this art show Pablo and Henri got into an even bigger argument. They went on to live very successful but different lives. Matisse lived a very calm life. He would stick to the same schedule everyday. He took a more businessmen approach to life. He opened an art academy in Paris. He sold several paintings for over 20 million dollars. He found his style as an artist. Got married and had children. On the other hand Picasso lived a more lavish and out of the norm lifestyle. Early in Picasso’s artist journey he lost a very close friend. This event caused him to have severe depression and really shut himself off from the outside world.
*Picasso calls Matisse*
P Picasso- Hello, I know we haven’t exactly been friends lately… But, I’ve been going through a lot recently and I feel like you could help me.
H Matisse- I don’t see this not resulting in an argument, but I’ll give it a try.
P Picasso- Earlier this year I had my close friend Carlos Casagemas die…
*Matisse Interrupts*
H Matisse- Before you go any further.. I’ve noticed a sadder bluer approach to your art.
P Picasso- I have no will to get out of bed anymore. Just taking normal care of myself is hard. I feel as though I can’t create normal art anymore. I feel if I went on as usual I’d be lying…
H Matisse- I wish you would’ve came to me sooner so you didn’t have to feel this way.
P Picasso- Even though we’ve never had rough beginnings thank you for how compassionate you are being towards me. It really does mean a lot.
H Matisse- You know you really aren't that bad Pablo.
P Picasso- See you around, old friend.
H Matisse- Best of luck, keep in touch..
Narrator- The two continued as close friends but talk sporadically and when necessary. Picasso recovered from his depression after dealing with it for 3 years. That part of his life was known as the “Blue Period”. This was because his use of color in his art was primarily blue.
Years later…
*Picasso to Matisse*
P Picasso- I feel so much more happiness in my life.
H Matisse- I’ve noticed your art is much more warm in color.
P Picasso- I feel as if I’m seeing the world through rose colored glasses.
H Matisse- I’m glad you’re doing so well, but I’ve got to go. I’ll see you next week.
P Picasso- Goodbye!
Narrator- Matisse grew incredibly sick. But, he wanted to hide it from Picasso. Picasso had just recovered from a deep depression and rediscovered happiness, Matisse didn’t want to ruin that. Instead of creating art Matisse found a new passion, living his life to the fullest by spending what time he had left with his family.
*Matisse talking to press on his deathbed*
H Matisse- We’ve got to see each other often, because when one of us goes there are things the other will no longer be able to say to anyone. But he never comes..
*Picasso walks in*
H Matisse- Dear friend! You’ve come to see me.
P Picasso- How are you doing?
H Matisse- Not well… they say I’m really sick.
*Picasso visibly gets upset*
H Matisse- Only one person has the right to criticize me , and that’s you, Pablo.
P Picasso- I just wish I would’ve gotten off my high horse and spent more time as friends rather than enemies…
*A short time later on the day of Matisse’s funeral*
Picasso’s speech
P Picasso- You have got to be able to picture side by side everything Matisse and I were doing at that time. No one has ever looked at Matisse’s painting more carefully than I, and no one has looked at mine, more carefully than he. In the end, everything depends on one’s self, on a fire in the belly with a thousand rays. Nothing else counts. That is why, for example, Matisse is Matisse… He’s got the sun in his guts.
Picasso’s Wife- No one meant quite as much to him as Matisse.
Narrator- Picasso never really slipped into a depression after Matisse’s passing. Rather he was appreciative for having him and only regret the time they spent hating each other each other. But, was so thankful for everything Matisse had done for him in such a short amount of time.
France
Art Gallery
P Picasso- I wonder where Henri is?
*Henri walks in*
H Matisse- Hm, hello Pablo, how are you?
P Picasso- Oh, hello. I’m doing great. I’m just waiting for a painting to be bought…
H Matisse- Are you sure one will even be purchased?
P Picasso- Positive.
H Matisse- So which of your paintings did you bring?
P Picasso- Les Femme d’Alger, Golden Muse, and Femme Assise.
H Matisse- Ah, all of your ‘unique’ abstract pieces.
P Picasso- Don’t start with your opinions again. Do you want a big argument like we had 5 years ago?
H Matisse- You’re referring to the conflict we had because you believe your opinion is the correct one. Don’t forget you can’t take any kind of criticism.
P Picasso- My art is beautiful, creative, and it stands out. I created an entire genre of art! What have you done?
H Matisse- That Cubism art you do is ridiculous!
P Picasso- You’re impressionistic art is too mainstream you’ll never branch out…
Narrator- After this art show Pablo and Henri got into an even bigger argument. They went on to live very successful but different lives. Matisse lived a very calm life. He would stick to the same schedule everyday. He took a more businessmen approach to life. He opened an art academy in Paris. He sold several paintings for over 20 million dollars. He found his style as an artist. Got married and had children. On the other hand Picasso lived a more lavish and out of the norm lifestyle. Early in Picasso’s artist journey he lost a very close friend. This event caused him to have severe depression and really shut himself off from the outside world.
*Picasso calls Matisse*
P Picasso- Hello, I know we haven’t exactly been friends lately… But, I’ve been going through a lot recently and I feel like you could help me.
H Matisse- I don’t see this not resulting in an argument, but I’ll give it a try.
P Picasso- Earlier this year I had my close friend Carlos Casagemas die…
*Matisse Interrupts*
H Matisse- Before you go any further.. I’ve noticed a sadder bluer approach to your art.
P Picasso- I have no will to get out of bed anymore. Just taking normal care of myself is hard. I feel as though I can’t create normal art anymore. I feel if I went on as usual I’d be lying…
H Matisse- I wish you would’ve came to me sooner so you didn’t have to feel this way.
P Picasso- Even though we’ve never had rough beginnings thank you for how compassionate you are being towards me. It really does mean a lot.
H Matisse- You know you really aren't that bad Pablo.
P Picasso- See you around, old friend.
H Matisse- Best of luck, keep in touch..
Narrator- The two continued as close friends but talk sporadically and when necessary. Picasso recovered from his depression after dealing with it for 3 years. That part of his life was known as the “Blue Period”. This was because his use of color in his art was primarily blue.
Years later…
*Picasso to Matisse*
P Picasso- I feel so much more happiness in my life.
H Matisse- I’ve noticed your art is much more warm in color.
P Picasso- I feel as if I’m seeing the world through rose colored glasses.
H Matisse- I’m glad you’re doing so well, but I’ve got to go. I’ll see you next week.
P Picasso- Goodbye!
Narrator- Matisse grew incredibly sick. But, he wanted to hide it from Picasso. Picasso had just recovered from a deep depression and rediscovered happiness, Matisse didn’t want to ruin that. Instead of creating art Matisse found a new passion, living his life to the fullest by spending what time he had left with his family.
*Matisse talking to press on his deathbed*
H Matisse- We’ve got to see each other often, because when one of us goes there are things the other will no longer be able to say to anyone. But he never comes..
*Picasso walks in*
H Matisse- Dear friend! You’ve come to see me.
P Picasso- How are you doing?
H Matisse- Not well… they say I’m really sick.
*Picasso visibly gets upset*
H Matisse- Only one person has the right to criticize me , and that’s you, Pablo.
P Picasso- I just wish I would’ve gotten off my high horse and spent more time as friends rather than enemies…
*A short time later on the day of Matisse’s funeral*
Picasso’s speech
P Picasso- You have got to be able to picture side by side everything Matisse and I were doing at that time. No one has ever looked at Matisse’s painting more carefully than I, and no one has looked at mine, more carefully than he. In the end, everything depends on one’s self, on a fire in the belly with a thousand rays. Nothing else counts. That is why, for example, Matisse is Matisse… He’s got the sun in his guts.
Picasso’s Wife- No one meant quite as much to him as Matisse.
Narrator- Picasso never really slipped into a depression after Matisse’s passing. Rather he was appreciative for having him and only regret the time they spent hating each other each other. But, was so thankful for everything Matisse had done for him in such a short amount of time.