"Girl Before A Mirror"

Pablo Picasso painted Girl Before A Mirror in March of 1932. Unlike The Old Guitarist, this painting is a part of Picasso's cubism period. The girl featured in the painting is Marie Therese Walter, who was a mistress of Picasso. She is featured in a number of Picasso's paintings. Seeing as that the subject of the painting is secret lover, some critics consider Girl Before a Mirror to be "erotic."

Mirror is a bright and bold painting. Picasso included a background usually used to enhance the main focus on the image but decided to make just as important and eye-catching. The diamond pattern of the backdrop is similar to the costume of the Harlequin, a comical clown character featured in the Italian Commedia dell'arte, a form of theater in Italy during the 16th-century. Picasso often related himself to the character. (Pictured right: a modern day Harlequin)

Besides so bold, the interpretations of Girl Before A Mirror are numerous. One interpretation is the brighter side of the painting represents the girl during the day when she appears more like a woman with all of her makeup on. However, the darker side represents the girl at night when she removes the mask of makeup thereby appearing like a young, vulnerable lady.

Another interpretation is the darker side represents the girl in her old age. The green mark on her forehead and her darkened facial features shows the wrinkles and "distorted body" that comes with aging. Furthermore, some believe the girl sees all her flaws that others do not; she critiques herself while the world does not want her to change.

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"Girl Before A Mirror"
Harlequin

Pablo Picasso painted Don Quixote in 1955, and it is one of his more well-known paintings. Don Quixote features the characters Don Quixote de la Mancha and his sidekick, Sancho Panza, which are characters from the story by Miguel de Cervantes. The novel, Don Quixote, tells the tale of a man named Alonso Quijano, who reads so any heroic novels that he sets out to become one himself under the name Don Quixote. Alonso appoints a simple farmer, Sancho, to be his squire. The name, Don Quixote, means talented defender or gifted saviour.

Unlike his previous paintings, Picasso's Don Quixote seems like a simple black and white sketch. His previous paintings contained multiple color schemes and symbolism. However, Don Quixote seems to hold more power than the rest. The featured figures look deformed but dramatic. Picasso grasps the fatigue and weariness that the reader feels in Don Quixote. In addition, it seems that the figures in Don Quixote were changed many times before final completion. Don Quixote, on the right of the painting, has a thin neck that connects his head to his rather large body. Compared to Panza, who sits on the left, Don Quixote looks ragged and malnourished. Nonetheless, Picasso captures his audience's attention in Don Quixote with an overall attractiveness and a "bright humor."

A link for the novel, Don Quixote, is below if you would liked to read a summary of the story Picasso based this painting on.

Source
Don Quixote
Don Quixote - Novel

"Girl Before A Mirror"

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Pablo Picasso

"Don Quixote"

"Self Portrait"

"Asleep"

"Girl Before A Mirror"

"The Old Guitarist"

"Don Quixote"

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