Picasso: Guitars 1912-1914

PabloPicassosmodestyetrevolutionarycardboardandsheetmetalGuitarsculptures(1912and1914,respectively)bracketanincandescentperiodofstructural,spatialandmaterialexperimentationfortheartist.InOctober1912,whileinwhathedescribedastheprocessofimaginingaguitar,Picassoembracedtheradicaltechniquesofcollage,construction,andmixedmediapainting,frequentlycombiningtraditionalartistssuppliesoilpaint,charcoal,pastel,inkwithwhatwerethenunconventionalmaterials,includingcardboard,newspaper,wallpaper,sheetmusicandsand.PublishedinconjunctionwithanexhibitionatTheMuseumofModernArt,thisvolumesituatesPicassosGuitarswithintheconstellationofobjectsthatsurroundedtheminhisstudio,affordingafreshunderstandingoftheuniquematerialandhistoricalqualitiesoftheartistsworkintheyearsimmediatelypriortoWorldWarI.AnessaybyAnneUmlandincorporatesphotographs,correspondence,archivalrecordsandeyewitnessaccounts,providinginsightsintoPicassospracticeandtheremarkableinstitutionalhistorybehindtheacquisitionofthetwoGuitarsculptures,bothgiftstoMoMAfromtheartist.