The artwork titled “Las Meninas (Velazquez)” was created by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso in 1957. As a reimagining of the classic painting by Diego Velázquez, Picasso’s version falls under the umbrella of Naïve Art or Primitivism and can be categorized as a portrait. This particular piece is a part of a series in which Picasso devoted himself to reinterpret Velázquez’s masterpiece.
Upon examining the artwork, one is immediately struck by the bold use of color and the abstracted forms which are characteristics of Picasso’s later works. The original composition’s spatial complexity is simplified here, and familiar figures from Velázquez’s painting are presented in a more gestural and less detailed manner. Contrasting hues and distorted perspectives invite the viewer to engage with the work in a new and imaginative way.ểmThe presence of the core subjects—originally painted with such detailed realism by Velázquez—has been transformed into a collection of shapes and colors that retain the essence of the original while providing a fresh interpretation that is undeniably Picasso.
