In this second episode of "Genius," the focus is on the period of the German Occupation of France and Picasso's relations with the Nazis. In many ways, the central image of the program is the city of Paris.
Paris was the capital of the art world during the formative years of Picasso. This episode opens in Rennes on May 10, 1940, which marked the onset of the fall of France to Germany. Picasso rescues his art works from capture by the Nazis, making a mad dash from Le Tremblay-sur-Mauldre to Paris. The aging Picasso, played by Antonio Banderas, resembles Hitler with his wig and the "comb-over." With fearless wit, Picasso answers the question posed by the Gestapo about Picasso's mural "Guernica," "You did this?" with the biting response, "No, you did."
In a flashback to the turn of the twentieth century, we meet the youthful Picasso making a splash in Paris. Although he does not instantly take Paris by storm, he begins by conventional paintings that have the hallmarks of nineteenth century masters like Toulouse Lautrec, Renoir, and Degas. He captures the ambience in the Moulin de la Gazette dance hall and begins to sell his works on commission. He is now recognized by the art connoisseur Arthur Huc. Yet he is also a prima donna, refusing to complete portraits that will compromise his fierce independent streak.
Much of the program revolves around the tragic story of Picasso's friend and fellow artist, Carles Casagemas. In Paris, Carles fell in love with Germaine Pichot. She could not return his love, and he shot himself. Picasso is haunted by the death of his friend, and, once again, he feels that the death is God's retribution for not keeping up the frantic pace of his painting and for "avoiding work." After a bout of self-incrimination, Picasso paints the cadaver of the hapless Carles Casagemas. Will this fulfill Picasso's quest for the "perfect painting"? At the very least, it is one of the truly haunting works of Picasso's "blue" period.
Picasso's own stormy love life leads to another confrontation between Dora Maar and Marie-Thérèse Walter. In this instance, with the little daughter Maya present, Picasso chooses Marie-Thérèse over Dora. But in a fateful encounter, Picasso meets another stunning woman, the "intellectual" artist, Françoise. Will she become his next muse?
To be continued....
Paris was the capital of the art world during the formative years of Picasso. This episode opens in Rennes on May 10, 1940, which marked the onset of the fall of France to Germany. Picasso rescues his art works from capture by the Nazis, making a mad dash from Le Tremblay-sur-Mauldre to Paris. The aging Picasso, played by Antonio Banderas, resembles Hitler with his wig and the "comb-over." With fearless wit, Picasso answers the question posed by the Gestapo about Picasso's mural "Guernica," "You did this?" with the biting response, "No, you did."
In a flashback to the turn of the twentieth century, we meet the youthful Picasso making a splash in Paris. Although he does not instantly take Paris by storm, he begins by conventional paintings that have the hallmarks of nineteenth century masters like Toulouse Lautrec, Renoir, and Degas. He captures the ambience in the Moulin de la Gazette dance hall and begins to sell his works on commission. He is now recognized by the art connoisseur Arthur Huc. Yet he is also a prima donna, refusing to complete portraits that will compromise his fierce independent streak.
Much of the program revolves around the tragic story of Picasso's friend and fellow artist, Carles Casagemas. In Paris, Carles fell in love with Germaine Pichot. She could not return his love, and he shot himself. Picasso is haunted by the death of his friend, and, once again, he feels that the death is God's retribution for not keeping up the frantic pace of his painting and for "avoiding work." After a bout of self-incrimination, Picasso paints the cadaver of the hapless Carles Casagemas. Will this fulfill Picasso's quest for the "perfect painting"? At the very least, it is one of the truly haunting works of Picasso's "blue" period.
Picasso's own stormy love life leads to another confrontation between Dora Maar and Marie-Thérèse Walter. In this instance, with the little daughter Maya present, Picasso chooses Marie-Thérèse over Dora. But in a fateful encounter, Picasso meets another stunning woman, the "intellectual" artist, Françoise. Will she become his next muse?
To be continued....
