Pablo Picasso "Child Holding a Dove" 1901.

... Pablo Picasso "Child Holding a Dove" 1901 National Gallery, London Analysis: Teacher's Notes Doves are a recurring theme in Picasso's work. His father bred them and many of his childhood sketches included them. This work also represent's a return to thoughts of his childhood and memories of his sister Conchita who died of diphtheria in 1895. Following her death, Picasso's work took on a new maturity and this contributed to the melancholy theme of his 'Blue Period'. "Child Holding a Dove" is painted just prior to the commencement of Picasso's 'Blue Period' and clearly shows the influences which shaped his early work. Renoir's gift for capturing the innocence of children without sentimentality is shown here together with the colour and contour of Gauguin. Traditional Spanish painting also helped shape Picasso's early stage and we can see movement away from the flat expanses of colour used by the Impressionist's and the development of the

want to read more? →