Monstrosity in European Art: A reflection on the role of Monstrosity in 19th century paintings

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907)

           Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is one of Picasso’s flagship paintings with its crude and sexual themes. The painting’s name and subject matter refer to the women who worked on a street in Madrid, Avignon, which was known for its brothels, and the painting represents some of Picasso’s feelings about the women themselves and other themes of colonization, the male gaze, and a perception of space. The painting was also inspired by other more languid works by Cezanne and later Matisse who Picasso viewed as a rival. To be noted too is that this painting appeared during Picasso’s African inspired period and the influence can be seen in the masked women on the right whose faces reference the “alien and aggressive” qualities of African art. The women on the far right themselves are understood to stand for Picasso’s fear of sexually transmitted disease. On the other side of the painting is a woman whose face seems to be inspired by Iberian sculpture, representing the idealized female form. Picasso is also very clear on his vulgar intentions, this painting is not as idealized and clean cut as some of his contemporaries work on the similar subject and the table in the bottom points directly to a woman who is presumed to be the favorite of the male viewer. This vulgarity combined with the rest of the subject matters creates an aggressively sensual and poignant painting which is still considered one of Picasso’s best.
          Like in The Weeping Woman, there can be themes of monstrosity and uncertainty found in Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Clearest are the women on the far right who represent monstrosity through their mask like faces and also in the fear they represent. Underlying the whole painting as well is a startling female sexuality which contrasts from other paintings which represent women as purer and innocent. Female sexuality is a subject matter that has been present in our class, especially when considering the conquest of the new world and Maria de Zayas' stories, and Picasso brings those questions to the streets of Madrid. The sexuality itself is is not antagonized rather the jarring way it is represented through the male gaze is where the issue arises and where the question is asked of whether the women themselves are monstrous or the way men see them. Picasso’s cubist style is at its peak in this painting and the ambiguity in the shape and intent of the figures in the painting it as alluring as it is startling.
 

This page has paths:

Contents of this tag: