International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

The Concept of death in existentialism and its reflection in Picasso’s artworks

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Art Philosophy, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran
2 Department of Art Philosophy, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran
3 Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
Abstract
Existentialism, a 20th-century philosophical movement, emphasizes the importance of individual existence, freedom of choice, and responsibility in the face of death and the futility of life. This research focuses on Picasso's works and how the existentialist view of death has significantly influenced his artistic style, subjects and techniques. By carefully analyzing Picasso's key works, each of his works contains different symbols to represent death. This article explores the relationship between the existential anxiety caused by the awareness of death and its artistic expression and how Picasso used visual elements such as cold colors, broken forms and distorted faces to convey existentialist concepts such as emptiness, loneliness and facing death. will be reviewed. By using the theories of existentialist philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Martin Heidegger, and matching them with art analysis, this research not only helps to gain a deeper understanding of Picasso's works, but also shows how art can be a powerful tool to express and Explore complex philosophical concepts. Specifically, this article focuses on Heidegger's concept of "moving towards death or being" and how it manifests in Picasso's works. In addition, the influence of personal events in Picasso's life, such as the death of his close friend Carlos Casaxmas and his experiences during the world wars, on his view of death and its reflection in his works are examined. This research has been compiled in a library method and has been analytically and descriptively concluded.

Graphical Abstract

The Concept of death in existentialism and its reflection in Picasso’s artworks

Highlights

  • Existentialism emphasizes the importance of individual existence, freedom of choice, and responsibility in the face of death and the futility of life.
  • By carefully analyzing Picasso's key works, each of his works contains different symbols to represent death.
  • This paper explores the relationship between the existential anxiety caused by the awareness of death and its artistic expression.
  • The influence of personal events in Picasso's life, such as the death of his close friend Carlos Casaxmas and his experiences during the world wars, on his view of death and its reflection in his works are examined.

Keywords

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  • Receive Date 05 August 2024
  • Revise Date 29 October 2024
  • Accept Date 22 November 2024