Women: Pablo Picasso, Max Beckmann, Willem de Kooning

The depictions and roles of women in the paintings of Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), Max Beckmann (1884–1950) and Willem de Kooning (1904–1997) typically give rise to conversations and presumptions about machismo and misogyny. Of course, these artists’ portrayals of women cannot be dismissed so easily, and in fact all offer highly nuanced explorations of the theme. This publication explores their depictions of women as more than painterly projections of male longing and desire, treating them as reflections of social and political conflicts and upheavals. Contributions from art historians, sociologists and artists approach the figures of women in these bodies of work from a variety of perspectives: for Picasso, as a catalyst for a confrontation with the artist’s own life and history; for Beckmann, as completely independent themes; and for de Kooning, as the force that makes artistic expression itself possible.