Picasso and Baudelaire on Sexuality

Charles Baudelaire was undoubtedly the epitome of all French poets both in the early 18th century and the present day. Being the most compelling poet in both the eighteenth and nineteenth century, Baudelaire is acknowledged for his success in the exceptional expression of a sophisticated sensibility of present-day themes within the structure of classical rigor and technical artistry. Like this, Baudelaire knew no boundaries and even if he was aware of those as mentioned earlier, he typically ripped through society’s conventional umbrella like a sword rips a tear through the cultural fabric of the present day. Hence via his numerous compositions, for instance, his famous work “The Flowers of Evil,” Baudelaire addresses the themes of sexuality and sexual obsession. Similarly, Pablo Picasso is also regarded as the most influential artist of the modernist era. Picasso’s life was nothing short of stable characterized by a massive sex drive that rendered him a womanizer for his multiple mistresses. Conversely, the womanizing aspect of his life resulted in a vast influence in is a work of art where sex and sexuality components motivated a majority of his artistry works. For this, it is unequivocal that both Baudelaire and Picasso hold a shared belief in sexuality that they both explicitly pointed out in their works. Hence, this essay shall examine both Picasso and Baudelaire perspectives on sexuality as depicted in their work of art.

In essence, it is visible that Baudelaire being a distinguished poet in French literature and also prose writer to equate his proficiency in poetry is known for his appalling and astonishing poetic works devoted to the themes of sex, sexual obsessions, death and sexuality among others. Hence, his prowess made him the first to present to his audience an outlook of modern urban Paris with its secrecies and horrors. Among his famous work is “The Flowers of Evil” that has had a tremendous influence on modernism with his provocative themes rendering a significant impact on other figures in art. For instance, a majority of Picasso’s works have sexuality component to them as it is apparent Picasso dehumanizes women in many of his art turning them into sexual objects for their sexuality and numerous depictions of both men and women nudity. Profoundly, the above is an indication that Picasso might have been influenced by Baudelaire contemplations in his artistic hence his explicitly illustrating the theme of sex and sexuality in his works.