The Picasso

Context

The Picasso being unveiled

Among the most iconic sculptures in Chicago, The Picasso is an enigma. What is it supposed to represent? The Richard J. Daley plaza is home to this structure. The sculpture was commissioned in 1963 by architects working on the Richard J. Daley Center. Pablo Picasso said to the architects that he usually does not do commission work, but he did it anyway. He accepted because apparently wanted to be involved in projects in the two gangster cities, the other being Marseille, France. He refused the $100,000 that was offered to him because he wanted the sculpture to be a gift to the people of Chicago. Picasso never gave the sculpture a name or title. It is commonly referred to as Chicago Picasso or, simply, The Picasso. Before this sculpture was unveiled, there was a great controversy. This would be one of the first sculptures in the city that would not dedicated to a historical figure. Also, the fact that the subject was not definite was frightening to some. The sculpture has grown into an iconic Chicago landmark. It appears in movies such as The Blues Brothers and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Even though The Picasso thoroughly confused Chicagoans for a while, they have grown to accept this sculpture in their beautiful city.

How the Artist Conveys the Meaning

The Picasso

Mystery is the over arching theme of this structure is mystery. First, no one definitely knows the subject. Picasso never explicitly stated it. Some speculations include an insect, a dog, and a French woman named Lydia Corbett. Personally, I think it looks like a baboon. The most popular theory is that it is based on Corbett. Picasso painted about forty works inspired by her. Another looming mystery is the title. Did Picasso purposely not name his work? Maybe Picasso would have done this to keep the work subjective. This way, each individual could have their own interpretation as to the subject and the meaning. Being different is a not as obvious theme represented in the piece. As mentioned above, The Picasso was the first of its kind in Chicago. The people of Chicago were used to having grand statues of historic figures sprinkled throughout the city. A city council member even suggested replacing the structure with a statue of Ernie Banks. The Picasso was quite a change. However, now abstract statues are more mainstream. The Cloudgate is another iconic landmark that happens to be a sculpture. Some may say that this structure was revolutionary in the Chicago public art scene. 

Why I Find it Beautiful

The Picasso cheering on the
Chicago Blackhawks

I find beauty in the mystery of this sculpture. While I am convinced that it is supposed to be a baboon, I enjoy hearing other people’s interpretations of the piece. I believe that all art can be subjective, but this one definitely strikes interesting conversations. Everyone seems to have a different opinion. Even though it is a sculpture created by arguably the most famous artist of the 20th century, it is still considered public art. I often see people climbing the base and using it as a slide. Whenever i pass by it, I almost never reflect on how special it is. I realize now how special it is to have this massive Picasso statue in my backyard. This shows how the public has learned to accept The Picasso as a part of the city. Also I find this piece beautiful because it represents home. Chicago is such a beautiful city and I have loved growing up here. The Picasso is strangely involved in so much of the culture of the city. For instance, when the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, The Picasso was decorated appropriately. So much is reflected through the sculpture that Picasso could not possibly have intended.