Sunday, January 30, 2011

yes, pablo, i'm listening


I don't believe in accidents. There are only encounters in history. There are no accidents. 
Pablo Picasso 



I said they always come in threes. Thursday I randomly added Picasso's otherworldly Woman With a Helmet of Hair, 1904, to my sidebar and stated in Manor Macro that I had a bit of a crush on Pablo Picasso. Friday morning, I saw an article on Picasso's Weeping Woman: The Life and Art of Dora Maar by Mary Ann Caws, pulled the copy from my little library shelf, and added it to the leaning stack on my desk for another read. Friday afternoon, on my weekly ritual trip to the thrift store, what was in my path, but a big beautiful framed print of Picasso's Mother and Child, 1921, for $18. Perfect, since I collect mother and child images. Okay, Pablo, darling, what are you trying to tell me?

45 comments:

  1. What a marvelous run of synchronicity. Don't you just love it when the stars line up and all is right with your world?

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  2. Talk about synchronicity...I have every book I can find on Pablo. I am entralled with him also. I have books and articles stuffed into the books when ever I find them. They are overflowing. I am entralled with Francoise Gilot also, and have everything I can find on her too. There is a marvelous interview with Charlie Rose that if you haven't heard or seen it yet I will send you the link. The first dentist I ever worked for loaned me his book 'Life with Picasso' by Francoise Gilot . I finally had to buy it for myself and I have read it and reread it every year since 1981. I kinda get hooked on things..but she wrote the book with the most extraordinary memory of everything he ever said to her. Amazing.
    I saw the movie Life with Picasso starring Anthony Hopkins..I wasn't too sold on his portrayal but the young actress that played Francoise had a striking resemblance and manner.We have a lot in common!

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  3. We had a print of his 'Old Guitarist', also from the 'blue period', hanging in our home for many years. Unfortunately it was badly damaged during a house move. I do miss it about the place, still.

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  4. that he's got a crush on you too

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  5. Here is the link, Tess
    http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/5090

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  6. Pablo is just affirming what you already know; that all life burns in kindred musing.

    The print is gorgeous. It seems you and I seek out the same kinds of things when we go thrifting.

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  7. What a find at the thrift store...the print for only $18! You have the best timimg : )
    Maybe Pablo is telling you to relax and enjoy looking at the paintings in the book while sitting under his lovely "Mother and Child" print. Enjoy!

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  8. I love it! I had the same bit of luck with Lorca in the last week or so. I experienced four "accidental" incidents back to back involving Lorca. And fortunately, I too was listening. And heard exactly what needed hearing.

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  9. Sounds like a Pablo moment.
    I recently saw the most lovely mother and child drawing by him.
    How I wish he hadn't gone Cubist, though, as an art history major, I can understand why.
    He was such an exquisite draftsman, and almost certainly a charismatic pain in the you- know- what to live with---in short an ARTIST!
    Hope you aren't too deluged in snow.

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  10. Kim, I wish "Surviving Picasso" with Anthony Hopkins was available on DVD. It's uncanny how Hopkins can morph himself into just about anyone!

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  11. Oh, and thanks for the link! I'm off to check it out...

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  12. OOOO--nice synchronicity. I fell in love with Pablo when I read Arianna Huffington's biography of him --

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  13. Oh yeah ... how cool.

    I love that painting; in fact all his work from before Cubism. I know Cubism was important, but he was such a great painter before that. Wow.

    I wonder why he's knocking at your door? Hmmmm

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  14. Oh, yes, Tess..the movie was called Surviving Picasso. Very much shunned by Francoise and Paloma.

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  15. Don't you just love it when things like this happen...

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  16. Oh, it was meant to be, then! I love Picasso, too. His work is always amazing. We have several of his prints that I love hanging throughout our place.

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  17. "It takes a long time to become young."
    --Pablo Picasso

    Thanks for the correction on the
    Hopkins film. I was startled by
    Pablo's alleged collaboration
    with the fascists and nazis;
    in terms of his art.
    You seem to be the goddess
    of synchronicity, Tess,
    for your strings of it are
    awe inspiring. I salivate at the
    possibility of spending such
    a day sometime. Can you post
    an image of the new print?

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  18. Tess -- I am quite familiar with Pablo through a few articles, books, etc. I did listen to the interview of Francoise Gilot with Charlie Rose and got a different perspective on Pablo. I thank KIM that included the site of the Rose interview. Interesting look at Pablo by all your commentators. Oh, and lucky you for finding the eighteen dollar Pablo. Perhaps your thoughts on Pablo was not an accident -- perhaps just a mind warm-up for this fine post. -- barbara

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  19. Yes, Glenn, this image is of the new print!

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  20. the picasso on your sidebar,
    i think it might be from his
    'blue period'.
    this is quite a thing you have going with him.

    and btw...
    who wouldn't have a crush on him?
    can you image he had so much fame,
    and alive to enjoy it.
    xxx

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  21. Indeed, Pablo is inspiring, in all his varieties, print, book, framed. Enjoy them all!

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  22. Tess,

    If Pablo were alive, I'm pretty sure what he'd be telling you.

    It might take the form of a -- firm -- 'request'?

    (Watch your back?)

    (Jus' sayin')

    Trulyfool

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  23. You have encounters with such interesting people… A nice surprise.

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  24. Curious. I also am a fan of Picasso, certainly the man with all of his faults; certainly the painter, though I prefer his earlier more naturalistic work but can appreciate the later.

    But, curious, also, because I have written about a painter today, too. Much different from Picasso but a painter, yes!

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  25. I don't know who used to stretch his canvases for him; but they were dreadful. I always wanted to go round and show him how it SHOULD be done. Other than that, I'm with you all the way.

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  26. Dona Maria Picasso Lopez de Ruiz. Yes, I remember her well. Did a report on Pablo while I was in high school, and to this day, can rattle off his mother's name at any time.

    Impresses my co-workers for no apparent reason at all!

    Rick

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  27. "Print" Who knows, it might be real. Check it carefully. You might come to love Picasso even more.

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  28. The print was definitely a great "sign" that it was needed at the Manor. Also loved Hopkins in Surviving Picasso; he's just simply brilliant.

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  29. Stunning Tess! A rush of delight as the portrait emerges on the page.

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  30. What a lucky find for you! Today I go to the store for the ingredients. The week is predicted to be very cold. I will make that chicken.....

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  31. $18.00 is a steal. I assume you also got the frame.

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  32. Yes, Abe, frame and all! It's 23" x 21" and in perfect condition. Definitely a steal.

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  33. Isn't it strange how things always occur in threes.

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  34. I've never seen that beautiful painting! Wow!

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  35. A mysterious call from beyond the veil...

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  36. I marvel at Picasso's prolific life in so many aspects.

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  37. It was just meant to be for you. I love when things like this happen!

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  38. Willow, it is no accident. You ARE embroiled in a love affair, ummm, I mean ENCOUNTER with the Master.

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  39. A complicated man. Incidentally a Scorpio. Did you see the Merchant/ Ivory film about his life during the war? Anthony Hopkins was very interesting and I remember Danny Huston as his son. The woman(?)was wonderful, (she always is). Memory, memory, oh darn!

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  40. Marc, yes, I thought the Merchant Ivory was very well done. Anthony Hopkins has the uncanny ability to morph into just about anyone. The gorgeous Natascha McElhone was Gilot and Julianne Moore played Dora Maar. For some reason, it's not available on DVD, crazy considering all the junk that's cranked out on discs.

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  41. The painting is from one of my favorite of his styles. I love the heft of the figures. When I returned to painting a number of years back, all I painted was mothers and children. I am putting the movie Life with Picasso on my netflix list now. I hadn't known about it.

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  42. Pablo's Weeping Woman for me was a high point but his Mother and Child, I suggest is saying; 'You eat too much!'

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  43. Lovely synchronicity! I love that print!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)