Dear Sophie -
GEORGE BRAQUE and Pablo Picasso worked so closely together, that at times it is almost impossible to distinguish among their works.
Braque stood by CUBISM and systems of fragmentation over the course of his career while Picasso continued to explore other painting methodologies.
With love,
Mom
Dear Sophie -
The Americans GERTRUDE STEIN and ALICE B. TOKLAS hosted a dynamic salon at their home in Paris up until the war. With her brother LEO STEIN, Gertrude amassed a formidable collection of paintings collecting the likes of PICASSO and MATISSE. Although both born in California, they met in France, and their love for one another was immediate and lifelong.
GERTRUDE was adventurous and forward thinking with her writing as well as her dress, her taste and opinions. ALICE was quiet, a great chef and Gertrude's muse.
Despite their mutually semitic heritage, they survived the war in France as collaborationists, marring their place in history.
With love,
Mom
Dear Sophie -
The great Spanish painter of the 20th Century is PABLO PICASSO. (1881- 1973) He was prolific in every way.
His ego was the size of his enormous talent. He produced as much as he consumed, filling houses with paintings while leading different lives with different wives.
His subjects and process evolved from the blue period and cubism to lovers and the horrors of the Spanish Civil War in the painting titled "Guernica". GERTRUDE STEIN was an important early patron.
He studied all of the masters, His series of paintings of bathers reference Cezanne. And an entire series of Meninas honor the Spanish painter Velazquez.
Among his great loves was his Dachshund named "Lump"
Con amor,
Mom