How does this artwork elucidate its Background?
This portrait reflects the artist's evolving relationship with Marie-Thérèse Walter during this period of their relationship. Prior to producing this work, Picasso had depicted his relationship with Walter as a blissful partnership, illustrated by the many sensual portraits that he created of her in 1932, which has led to her being described as Picasso's "Golden Muse". However, this painting reveals a change in their relationship over the course of five years. By 1937, Walter was the mother of Picasso's daughter, Maya, and her status as his mistress was under threat with the introduction of Dora Maar as a new love in the artist's life.The painting was produced in 1937, a particularly significant year in Picasso's artistic career, in which he also produced Guernica and The Weeping Woman. These significant works were the result of a turbulent year defined by political unrest in Spain and the bombing of the town of Guernica. Produced in December 1937, this portrait has been viewed as a continuation of The Weeping Woman theme. Neil Cox remarked on the perceived connection between Picasso's turbulent personal life and the political upheaval of the period, stating, "For Picasso the question of 'modernity' was acute in the 1930s and 1940s, since modernity in this period meant a personal life, a nation, a Europe and indeed a world in crisis. This period in Picasso's art is marked by a succession of shattering events in his personal life that no doubt appeared to him mirrored by the disasters in the world at large." Picasso's response to these turbulent events was to focus all of his attention on the monumental work of Guernica at the beginning of 1937. Both Walter and Maar played a significant role in the creation of Guernica, with Walter appearing at least twice in the composition. Maar played a more practical role in the development of the work, as she not only documented its progress, but also assisted with its painting.
bombing of the town of Guernica Dora Maar Marie-Thérèse Walter Maya The Weeping Woman Guernica