In 1901, Pablo Picasso painted “Evocation (The Burial of Casagemas)” as a tribute to his friend and fellow art student Carlos Casagemas, who had committed suicide after a failed love affair. The painting belongs to Picasso’s Blue Period, characterized by melancholy and sadness, and is considered to be a symbolist work with motifs that reappear in the artist’s later works.
Picasso was deeply affected by Casagemas’s death and began painting works that dealt with the deceased artist and their relationship. “Evocation (The Burial of Casagemas)” depicts the ascension of Carlos Casagemas’s soul in colorful symbolism but is also commonly cited as Picasso’s first exorcism picture.
Today, “The Burial of Casagemas” is exhibited in museums worldwide and can be found among the collections at Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. With its emotional weight behind it, this painting represents more than just an artistic depiction; it stands as a memorial for lost friends much like how many artists draw inspiration from tragic moments in their lives.
Adding my own factual knowledge: The Blue Period referred to an era in which Picasso predominantly painted with blue tones to express sadness or melancholy emotions. It lasted from 1901-1904 during his time spent primarily living in Paris. Other famous works from this period include “La Vie,” “Seated Harlequin” or more well-known pieces such as “La Celestina.”
