| In 1921 3 Musicians was created by Pablo Picasso | | | | from the musician's evident instruments. |
| as a farewell piece to Synthetic cubism. | | | | The central figure is a Harlequin playing guitar while |
| Cubism itself consists of different points of view, | | | | two other musicians sit faithfully by his side. |
| typically created through geometric figures, which | | | | These other two are believed to be a Pierrot and |
| are then compiled into one complete painting. | | | | Monk. The Pierrot is featured on the left side of |
| Cubism lasted for fifteen years and evolved into | | | | the painting performing with a saxophone up to |
| three phases of Cubism which Picasso explored; | | | | his mouth. There is also a dog beneath his feet |
| Analytical, Synthetic, and Curvilinear. | | | | appearing to be lost within the shadows due to |
| The transformation from Analytical Cubism to | | | | the definition solely in his ears, tail and feet. |
| Synthetic Cubism began around 1912. Picasso, | | | | There's incongruity in the small detail of the |
| began featuring color and emotion in his artwork. | | | | musical notes on the score held by the Monk, |
| Synthetic Cubism converted Picasso into a genius | | | | who is to the right of the Harlequin. |
| of extreme passion. This phase accentuated an | | | | The Harlequin and a Pierrot are characters in |
| abstract approach to the different views of the | | | | Italian opera, which Picasso often identified with. |
| object and their representation on paper. Diverse | | | | Picasso repeatedly depicted himself as the |
| textures, materials and colors distinguished the | | | | Harlequin throughout his work. He identified with |
| quasi-geometric shapes, which were in fact, quite | | | | the Harlequin's life as an individual destined to live |
| dissimilar from the actual image. "Three Musicians" | | | | outside mainstream society, and someone who |
| was an essential piece to this period and really | | | | supported himself as an entertainer and |
| encompassed the major theme of Synthetic | | | | performer of magic tricks. The Harlequin's ability |
| Cubism. | | | | to transform whatever he touched with his magic |
| The "Three Musicians" is an interpretation of a | | | | wand was a metaphor for artistic creation with |
| musical group performing in a small cafe. The | | | | the painter's brush. The Pierrot and Monk were |
| figures and background images are composed | | | | said to be poet friends of Picassos. |
| from a collage of different colors: blue, brown, | | | | It appears that this painting is created by large |
| white, red, black and yellow. This painting is | | | | pieces of either paper or fabric that are then cut |
| created by large geometric pieces, of what | | | | and pasted into large geometric shapes, but the |
| appears to be either paper or fabric, but is | | | | painting in fact was entirely done with oil on |
| actually oil on canvas. These are then compiled | | | | canvas. The ridged patches of colors and shapes |
| into three surprisingly level musicians. The | | | | are what cause people to believe that the music |
| sharp-edged patches of colors and shapes are | | | | being played has an unstable and crooked rhythm. |
| what help to express an unstable or rapid rhythm | | | | |