Weeping Woman

Weeping WomanYears in the making, Myatt has utterly immersed himself in the life and mind of Picasso to interpret some of the most seminal works from the artist who redefined art as we know it. Capturing his revolutionary spirit and masterful methods, Myatt has portrayed works from the distinct chapters of Picassos career, including his Blue, Rose, Cubist and Surrealist periods. Each period is marked by significant stylistic and thematic shifts, creating a

Years in the making, Myatt has utterly immersed himself in the life and mind of Picasso to interpret some of the most seminal works from the artist who redefined art as we know it.

Capturing his revolutionary spirit and masterful methods, Myatt has portrayed works from the distinct chapters of Picasso’s career, including his Blue, Rose, Cubist and Surrealist periods.

Each period is marked by significant stylistic and thematic shifts, creating a narrative that reflects the evolution of twentieth-century art. Myatt has devotedly sought to represent the works with the spirit Picasso would have originally intended, to honour the profound connection between Picasso’s life and work.

“There are just a few artists who are born with a level of skill that it takes others decades of hard work to achieve. Picasso was one of those. And when you can do anything in art, what do you do? You either turn out dazzling displays of technical virtuosity time and time again or challenge your own skills by seeking to redefine the very nature of art itself. That was what Picasso attempted and achieved.” – John Myatt

This artwork is based on Picasso's "The Weeping Woman", 1937, which serves as a poignant extension of the themes found in Picasso's monumental painting Guernica. By concentrating on the image of a crying woman, Picasso transcends the specific horrors of the Spanish Civil War, evoking a universal representation of suffering.

This iconic piece, created in 1937, emerged as a powerful response to the distressing images Picasso encountered in newspaper photographs of the Luftwaffe's bombing of Guernica on April 26, 1937. His portrayal of the Weeping Woman invites viewers to engage deeply with her anguished expression and dark eyes, connecting personal emotion to broader tragedy.

The painting is imbued with personal significance for Picasso; in May 1937, his mother wrote to him from Barcelona, describing how the smoke from the burning city made her eyes water. The image also draws on traditional Spanish art, referencing the Mater Dolorosa, the weeping Virgin, often depicted in dramatic baroque sculptures. A glass tear flows toward the woman's right ear, reminiscent of those historical representations.

The model for The Weeping Woman and the entire series is Dora Maar, a professional photographer who documented the stages of Guernica while Picasso worked on it in 1937. This connection adds a layer of intimacy and historical context to this striking portrayal of grief and resilience.

You can read more about the collection here or find out more about John Myatt here.