Over at Slate, Christopher Benfey has a nice slide show on an exhibition at the Clark Art Institute—located “in the Berkshires”—according to Chris, examining the impact of Edgar Degas on the illimitable and irrepressible Pablo Picasso.
Among the works featured is the one shown here, Nude Wringing Her Hair (1952). Although clearly riffing on Degas’ work, Benfey remarks that “an image of domesticity has become something more monumental, perhaps expressing Picasso’s “adamant opposition” (as co-curator and Picasso scholar Elizabeth Cowling suggests) to the Korean War.”
Yeah, I’m sure that nails it. Because, when it came to politics, Picasso was a total tool, just like Chris and Liz.
Afterwords
What is it about art that makes you stupid? Degas himself was a terrible racist, believing that his ballet “rats” were subhuman, feral creatures. “Such a charming little monkey!”
