Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
Pablo Picasso’s portraits from life are among his most revealing and powerful works. A key challenge for him was discovering the hidden life of each sitter, capturing this essence, and conveying it through a mask-like personification that reflected the person’s deeper identity. Often, like African masks, this process both shielded and re-fashioned external features, transforming them into a painting that captured a complete persona.
Hear from Suzanne Preston Blier, professor of fine arts and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, for an exploration of Picasso’s African influences.
Support for this program is provided by the Allan McNab Endowed Fund.
Pablo Picasso’s portraits from life are among his most revealing and powerful works. A key challenge for him was discovering the hidden life of each sitter, capturing this essence, and conveying it through a mask-like personification that reflected the person’s deeper identity. Often, like African masks, this process both shielded and re-fashioned external features, transforming them into a painting that captured a complete persona.
Hear from Suzanne Preston Blier, professor of fine arts and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, for an exploration of Picasso’s African influences.
Support for this program is provided by the Allan McNab Endowed Fund.
