Pablo Picasso: Celestina

Celestina

Discussion Questions

• What do you notice about this painting?

• What do you think the woman is thinking?

• What might be the metaphorical meaning of the opacification of her left eye?

Reflections from #MedHumChat

“The duality in her eyes struck me. the ability to be clear and foggy at the same time. life is like this...it exists in the grey, the yes and not the either or.” —@DrMMurphy

“I notice if you alternate covering one side of her face with your hand, her mood looks very different! Seems a deliberate effort to convey conflicts of mood/appearance” —@pallidad

“They say eyes are the window to the soul. But perhaps it shows us truths about ourselves we find unsettling? What clouds our own ability as viewers to understand or accept the experiences of another human? Perhaps she sees more than we do.” —@beestertime

About this #MedHumChat

“Celestina” was paired with “Depression is a Thing with Feathers,” an article by Andrew Solomon for a #MedHumChat discussion May 22, 2019 exploring Depression: Identity & Worldview.

The pieces for this chat, along with the discussion questions, were selected by Margot Hedlin.

About the Artist

Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) was a painter and sculptor who is famous for having mastered a range of artistic styles in his lifetime. You can learn more about him here.