Compare and Contrast
ARTIST: PABLO PICASSO TITLE: FEMME NUE ASSISE MEDIUM: OIL PAINT ON CANVAS DIMENSIONS: 921 x 730 mm
Thomas Dundas
ARTIST: VICTOR VASALERY TITLE: SUPERNOVAE MEDIUM: OIL PAINT ON CANVAS DIMENSIONS: 2419 x 1524 mm
Although the subjects of these two painting are so far removed, some similarities can be found in the comparison between colours and lines. More colours are present in,” femme nue assise”, however the painting is largely monochrome and has great use of straight lines and square shapes not so different from those present in,” supernovae”. For their respective time periods both styles offered something different from what was considered normal and demanded a different way of thinking from the viewer which, in my opinion, is what ultimately made them so remarkable. The intention behind Vasarely’s ,”supernovae”, was that it was to be displayed on the outside of a building as a mural that would tie in with its architecture.1 Combining art with architecture was a common idea among the Bauhaus of which Vasalery was a student.2 This differs from Picasso’s piece in that, although I was unable to find much information on the intention for,” Femme nue assise”, a similar, larger painting exists in the Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris, So it may be safe to assume that this piece by Picasso was simply a study for the larger one.3 Picasso himself, in contrast to Vasarely spent his entire life among other artists gaining influence from them, whereas Vasarely started his education in science and was clearly influenced by that as well.4 The last comparison I can make of these two artists is one of renown and credit. Picasso is afforded an immense amount of fame and credit for his work with collage and cubism.5 In contrast, even though he has achieved some fame as the,” Grandfather”,6 of Op Art, Vasarely has not nearly the same level of regognition as Picasso. However, it seems this may have been by his own design.7
"‘Supernovae’, Victor Vasarely, 1959–61 | Tate", Tate, 2020 <https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/vasarely-supernovae-t00676> [Accessed 21 November 2020]. 2 "Victor Vasarely | Op-Art.Co.Uk | Op-Art.Co.Uk", Op-Art.Co.Uk, 2020 <http://www.op-art.co.uk/victor-vasarely/> [Accessed 21 November 2020]. 3 "‘Seated Nude’, Pablo Picasso, 1909–10 | Tate", Tate, 2020 <https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/picasso-seated-nude-n05904> [Accessed 21 November 2020]. 4 "Victor Vasarely | Op-Art.Co.Uk | Op-Art.Co.Uk", Op-Art.Co.Uk, 2020 <http://www.op-art.co.uk/victor-vasarely/> [Accessed 21 November 2020]. 5 Metmuseum.Org, 2020 <https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pica/hd_pica.htm> [Accessed 21 November 2020]. 6 Kelly Grovier, "Victor Vasarely: The Art That Tricks The Eyes", Bbc.Com, 2020 <https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190305victor-vasarely-the-art-that-tricks-the-eyes> [Accessed 21 November 2020]. 7 "A View From Zagreb: Op And Kinetic Art – Display At Tate Modern | Tate", Tate, 2020 <https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tatemodern/display/in-the-studio/view-zagreb-op-and-kinetic-art> [Accessed 21 November 2020]. 1