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For every Pablo Picasso, there must be a Gertrude Stein
History would have you believe in the solitary virtuosity of Pablo Picasso, but his genius might never be known if it weren’t for the patronage of American novelist, poet and art collector Gertrude Stein. -
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In the winter of 1905, Picasso began to paint a portrait in oils of his friend Gertrude Stein. This was an ordinary enough occurrence but the artist, more at home depicting nimble acrobats and harlequins, was confronted with the feat of translating the sitter, described by art historian Miles J. Unger as having a ‘hulking, fleshy, sculptural presence’, onto the canvas. This slightly scathing evaluation of Stein holds some truth, in contrast to the stereotypically feminine, fashionable Parisian women of the previous century. To capture the quality of his muse, Picasso worked antithetically: in lieu of artistic content and narrative devices, Stein’s likeness was accomplished through the very application of paint.
In his struggle for the portrait of Gertrude Stein, Picasso transitioned from the early Italian period into the movement to which he is now inextricably linked, Cubism.
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Picasso would not be the artist we know today without Stein’s support. As a radical thinker, she brought together the greatest minds of her generation both in her salon and her remarkable collection of art.
For any collectors looking to evoke the spirit of the genius writer Gertrude Stein, click below to browse through a selection of artworks we think she'd approve of.
Build Your Collection like Gertrude Stein
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Pablo Picasso, Braggart in his Sunday Best behind the Scenes of a Circus - Hand-signed by Picasso, 1968£ 7,500.00
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Henri Matisse, La Danse£ 2,950.00
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Pablo Picasso, Colombe de Paix for 'Pour un nouveau printemps'', 1963£ 17,500.00
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Henri Matisse, Nu Bleu VII, 1958£ 2,950.00
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Pablo Picasso, L'Atelier de Cannes, 1958£ 5,950.00
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Pablo Picasso, Dwarf Dancer - Hand-signed by Picasso, 1966£ 6,950.00
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Pablo Picasso, Mother and Child with Dancer and Flute Player, 1962£ 1,250.00
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Henri Matisse, Nuit de Noel, 1958£ 950.00
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