Pablo Picasso’s full name is Pablo Ruiz Picasso. Of Spanish origin, he was born in 1881 and died in 1972 at the age of 91. Picasso is considered one of the greats in the field of modern art. He is credited with being the co-founder of the Cubist movement, which is an avant-garde movement of the early 20th century.. Picasso shares credit for this movement along with Georges Braque. Later other notable artists such as Jean Metzinger, Albert, Robert Delaunay Henri and Juan Gris joined this movement and revolutionized European art.

Love with Marie Therese Walter

Pablo Picasso was an emotional man. In 1927 he met 17-year-old Marie-Thérèse Walter, then only 17, and fell in love with her, even though he was already married. He fathered a daughter by her, but never divorced her wife.

Marie Therese and her “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” Effect

During the period when Picasso had his affair with Marie-Therese, she exerted a profound influence on him, although this did not prevent him from having affairs with other women, some of them nearly four decades his junior. During the period when Marie was her muse and love, he painted a series of pictures with her as the centerpiece. The first of these paintings entitled ‘Nude, Green Leaves and Bust’ it was painted in 1932. Marie was the inspiration behind these paintings. The painting is quite large, measuring over five feet. It is painted in blue and lilac colors and highlights Picasso’s deep passion for Marie, who was 29 years his junior.

the war years

Around this time, Picasso had befriended a French-Jewish art dealer named Paul Rosenberg. Picasso was in France at the time. The clouds of war were gathering over Europe and Rosenberg took the excuse of exhibiting the work in New York and shipped the painting out of France in 1939. This was a sensible step as Picasso was not in favor of the Nazis who had occupied France. . Picasso remained in France during the war years, while his painting remained in the United States.

History of painting after the war

Rosenberg exhibited the painting at his gallery on East 57th Street. The painting was purchased by Francis Brody in 1951 and was later removed from public display. It was exhibited only once in 1961 on Picasso’s 80th birthday. Francis Brody died in 2009. After his death, the painting was auctioned in 2010 by Christies in New York City. The painting was auctioned for $106 million, a record price at the time.

Painting Analysis

‘Nude, Green Leaves and Bust‘ is Picasso’s deep passion for his blonde lover Marie. The girl who appears was in love with Picasso despite his many adventures. She committed suicide after his death. A tragic end to a love story. There is no doubt that the painting now on loan at the Tate Gallery was inspired by Picasso’s young mistress.

Picasso was very fond of philodendron leaves. He depicted them in his painting of Marie by showing them emanating from his side.

Marie’s painting is one of Picasso’s best works and in it he has left an endearing image of a girl who gave everything for him.