One painting created by Pablo Picasso in 1907 and a reimagining of that same work nearly 100 years later by American artist Henry Taylor. Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is regarded as the inception of the Cubism style and a pivotal milestone in modern art. Henry Taylor has reconstructed this piece portraying Black women, with his version currently exhibited in Paris. In 1907, Picasso invited several artists and friends to his Paris studio to reveal a painting he had been working on for about six months. However, those present were astonished and unimpressed by the work. French painter Georges Braque described his reaction as a “peculiar sensation like drinking petrol,” while fellow artist Henri Matisse remarked that the women depicted appeared grotesque. Consequently, the painting was not publicly displayed for nearly a decade, until 1916.
The painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon has elicited diverse opinions. Some consider it an outstanding example of art, while others criticize it. This mix of perspectives has made it one of Picasso’s most famous and controversial artworks. Recently, American artist Henry Taylor recreated the painting from his own viewpoint. Taylor’s new rendition is currently on display at the Musée National Picasso in Paris. Taylor claims that Picasso’s original work was deeply influenced by African masks, although Picasso himself never openly acknowledged this.
In Picasso’s original oil painting, five nude women are depicted in a Barcelona brothel. Two have faces resembling masks or crowns, while the other three gaze directly at the viewer. Their bodies appear fragmented and distorted, a departure from Picasso’s usual style. This work represented a significant shift in Picasso’s artistic approach, which art experts widely recognize. According to museum curator Joan Snyerek, following this painting, Picasso moved away from the emotional and direct depictions characteristic of his earlier works.
