Francis Picabia
Born – Paris, France 1879
Died – Paris, France 1953
Francis Picabia’s diversity as an artist has distinguished him as an influential figure in the history of twentieth-century art; he is credited with being the originator of Pop Art. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Ecoles des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and has the distinction of having painted the first abstract painting in 1908, before Kandinsky in 1910. The attempt to inject lyricism into the dry, intellectualism of Cubism was a preoccupation among artists circa 1910. With these considerations in mind, Picabia came into contact with Duchamp and together they contributed to founding the Section d’Or (Golden Section). His association with Duchamp developed into an involvement with the anarchistic Dadaist movement. He was highly active both in Europe and America, publishing periodicals and journals in addition to promoting events and producing his own work. Picabia also associated with the Surrealists in Paris after 1919. Portrait of a Doctor contains elements that could be attributed to either tendency although the surreal nature of the image is a particular feature. Its meaning is obscure and appropriate for the artist, who declared that, “our heads are round so that thoughts can change direction”.
Masterpieces:
- Ici, C’est Ici Stieglitz
- Conversation I
Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson.
Books About francis picabia
The Artwork Caught by the Tail: Francis Picabia and Dada in Paris (October Books)
George Baker
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I Am a Beautiful Monster: Poetry, Prose, and Provocation
Francis Picabia
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Francis Picabia: Late Works 1933-1953 (Art in the Nineties)
Francis Picabia
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