“Evocation (The Burial of Casagemas)” is an evocative oil on canvas painting by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, created in 1901. With dimensions of 150 x 90.5 cm, the artwork is a significant piece of the Symbolism art movement and can be classified as a symbolic painting. It currently resides at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in Paris, France.
The artwork presents a complex and emotionally charged scene, likely inspired by the death of Picasso’s friend, Carlos Casagemas. It features a somber palette and is composed of a series of figures and elements that seem to be involved in a funeral ritual. The central focus appears to be the depiction of a lifeless figure, possibly Casagemas, shrouded in white and surrounded by mourners. The painting’s background is dominated by swirling, expressive strokes of dark blue and white, giving the composition an ethereal and otherworldly feel. Above, there are spectral figures, which may represent souls or celestial beings, adding to the funereal and mystical atmosphere of the scene.
The composition is imbued with symbolism, including the juxtaposition of life and death and the transition of the soul. The mourners are portrayed with elongated forms and somber expressions, communicating a deep sense of grief and contemplation. Picasso’s use of distortion and abstraction serves to convey the emotional states and themes of mortality, rather than to render a realistic representation of the event.
Overall, “Evocation (The Burial of Casagemas)” is a powerful expression of sorrow and the spiritual implications of death, which showcases Picasso’s early mastery of mood and symbolic storytelling through his art.
