Aesthetical Concept in Pablo Picasso’s Paintings

Abstract

This article is a part of the thesis entitled Aesthetical Concept in Pablo Picasso’s Paintings. The objectives of the study is to philosophically analyze the aesthetical concept in the paintings of Pablo Picasso. This research is based on three aesthetic frameworks: 1) Aesthetic Attitude 2) Aesthetic Experience and 3) Aesthetic Value. This is a documentary research based on textbooks and twenty paintings of Pablo Picasso from 1903 to 1972 CE.

The study found that Picasso's aesthetic attitude focuses on the expression of "emotional and creative" which painting is a tool to pass on the emotions. Created painting is also intuitional perception and imaginary perception. Picasso's aesthetic attitude is also consistent with Nietzsche's concept of humanism and existentialism. It is the view that human beings have the freedom to create and choose to live their lives in their own ways, and attitude shows the state of enjoyment to create and see new possibilities in life.

Aesthetical experience in Picasso’s paintings to audiences are varied depending on what eras of the paintings they admire. They could be touched by paintings lines, colors, weights, shapes and surfaces leading to impression and relaxation, but some paintings could lead to depression, terrific, sublime and psychical distance for a while. This research sees that Picasso’s paintings are aesthetical dualism because, to create paintings, he will give priority to shapes and emotions.

All of Picasso’s paintings has its real aesthetical values in beauty. Picasso is a Relativist. Because of the priority given in objects and subject matters. Picasso’s paintings do not only have specific format or only cubism framework, but also they absorb, adapt and borrow ‘the ways’ to create art from various doctrines and are combined together to create an individual identity.