Pablo Picasso and friends

I told you that I was in Vienna and once there, I must always, I mean 'always', visit the 'Albertina'.
One of the most invitingly beautiful art galleries, with large exhibition space, where even  the large paintings are given enough room so that, when you intensely look at one, the next one does not push itself into your view, by visually tickling you in the corner of your eye.

This time the Albertina featured two distinct types of artists:
The second floor featured Albrecht Dürer with his 'Hare', 'The Praying Hands' and others, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and many more of the 'classical periods'.

On the first floor were the modernists: Picasso, Renoir, Klee, Giacometti, Matisse, Kokoschka, Monet and many others. 
That's were I went.

I can almost hear some of my friends say: 
"What is Bert doing in a Gallery showing "Modern Art? Bert hates Modern Art!"

Well, you would be wrong. I do not hate modern art, but I do hate 'Charlatans', who slap some paint on a canvas,  place some high-falooten title beneath and hope that I, along with many more viewers will fall for this fraud.

The artists named above, however, cannot be placed into this category. Even Picasso, in any of his Periods, created works of abiding interest, and penetrating beauty.

Although I have spent many many hours wandering through art galleries, I do not, by any stretch of the imagination, think of myself as an expert. I am just somebody who really likes beautiful paintings.

Today I will post some of the modernists, which you could see in the original if you went to the Albertina in Vienna:

Pablo Picasso: ( 1881 - 1973 )

Pots and Lemon (1907)

There is probably not much to say about this painting,

except that the colour combination from a rust-red

to blue and yellow is pleasing.

Picasso : Stilllife with Guitar ( 1942 )

Living in occupied France, his paintings were

classified by the Germans as "degenerate Art".

Picasso, therefore, limited his output mostly to stilllives, 

but left some messages, which may be open to interpretation:

f.i. : In this Nazi controlled time, not even a mirror

reflected reality. The blood-red handle of the military sabre may indicate the brutality of the time. It also occurred to me
that this saber handle perfectly forms the letter
D for Deutschland !

Picasso: Mediterranean Landscape:

In 1948 Picasso lived in the South of France with Francoise Gilot.

At first glance, this view may convey an idyllic character - 

but the tight, angular lines creating enclosed, confining spaces mirror the unhappy relationship which existed between the two.

The view unto the Ocean and the sailboats are indicative of Pablo's desire for freedom and a new beginning.

Picasso:

Nude Woman with Bird and Fluteplayer ( 1967 )

The flute player may well indicate the artist himself, wooing his model. The dove, as a symbol of sexual lust emphasizes the erotic nature of this painting.

Oskar Kokoschka  (1886 - 1980 )

View of Vernet-les-Baines ( 1925 )

Kokoschka, on his way to Spain, was delayed for five days,

 waiting for his Visa.

So, what does a painter do to pass the time ?

He paints - a view from his hotel window.

Oskar Kokoschka:

"In the Garden" (1934 )

A young woman sits in a garden chair, 

pensively looking into the distance.

A friend holds a sea-shell to her left ear

and one wonders what it is she hears.

Oscar Kokoschka:

London, small Thames Landscape. ( 1926 )

Claude Monet: ( 1840 - 1926 )

"The Water Lilly Pond"  ( 1917 - 1919 )