Seventeenth Century Jewish Individualism :: Essays Papers

Seventeenth Century Jewish Individualism The seventeenth century not only marks an important era in Jewish history, the arrival of Jews in the New World, but it marks a shift in Jewish ideology as well. Traditionally, in the Old World prior to the Inquisition, Jews did not live as individuals but rather as a part of a social network or community that worshipped together, studied together, at times lived together, and had the same set of beliefs. During, and for sometime after the Inquisition, some secret Jews were part of an underground community but other secret Jews chose not to be part of any Jewish community, secret or not, out of fear. It was not until the seventeenth century that there was a conscious break in the tradition of being part of a community and some Jews chose the path of individualism, because they were dissatisfied with the confines of their current Jewish community or they were forced to abandon their community and worship individually. When Jews began to move from the Old World to the New World they were forced with the challenge of figuring out how they were supposed to practice Judaism when there was no current Jewish framework in place. When Portuguese Jews arrived in the New World they were forced to live outside of the traditional community because there was no Jewish community to greet them in New Amsterdam. In the seventeenth century, it was not the norm for a Jew to live outside of the Jewish community, but it was possible; one’s willingness or necessity to live outside of the community depended upon one’s geographical location, fear, or personal convictions. In fear of being persecuted for their faith during and after the Inquisition, many Jews took on secret identities and were referred to as â€Å"Crypto-Jews (Gerber 121).† In an effort to escape persecution or murder many Crypto-Jews kept themselves isolated from the openly Jewish community; it was not until many generations after the Inquisition that numerous Crypto-Jews who moved north to The Netherlands were introduced to other Jews and even, â€Å"†¦ a random encounter with a Jew visiting from abroad could inspire the Iberian converso to reconsider his identity (Gerber 187).† Before rediscovering his true identity as a Jew, the Crypto-Jew was not a part of an open community, nor did he have any concept of what it was like to be a member of an openly Jewish Community.

The History of Body Modification

The History and Culture of Body Modification What is body modification and why has it had such a large impact on society? For centuries humans have been using their bodies as a canvas to identify themselves to the rest of society. Body modification lets a person stand out or blend in; it allows people to describe who they are and where they come from without saying a word. There are many forms of body modification such as Tattooing, Scarification, Piercings, Stretching, Plastic Surgery, and Corseting. Each form holds a story, a reason why it is done. In the past three decades, Western body art has not only become a practice, and in some quarters a fashion, that has crossed social boundaries of class and gender, â€Å"high† culture and â€Å"low,† but also it has been greatly influenced by â€Å"tribal† practices, past and present. † (Enid Schildkrout, Inscribing the Body, Para 10 line 8) Tattooing The history of tattooing stems back thousands of years from all over the world for all different reasons. â€Å"In terms of tattoos on actual bodies, the earliest known examples were for a long time Egyptian and were present on several female mummies dated to c. 000 B. C. But following the more recent discovery of the Iceman from the area of the Italian-Austrian border in 1991 and his tattoo patterns, this date has been pushed back a further thousand years when he was carbon-dated at around 5,200 years old. The distribution of the tattooed dots and small crosses on his lower spine and right knee and ankle joints correspond to areas of strain-induced degeneration, with the suggestion that they may have been applied to alleviate joint pain and were therefore essentially therapeutic.This would also explain their somewhat ‘random' distribution in areas of the body which would not have been that easy to display had they been applied as a form of status marker. † (Cate Lineberry, Tattoos -The Ancient and Mysterious History, Para 2 and 3) There is evidence that women in Ancient Egypt had tattoos on various parts of their bodies, some on their inner thighs or on their hips, these tattoos were thought to help alleviate the pain of childbirth. â€Å"Tattooing of ancient Egyptian women had a therapeutic role and functioned as a permanent form of amulet during the very difficult time of pregnancy and birth.This is supported by the pattern of distribution, largely around the abdomen, on top of the thighs and the breasts, and would also explain the specific types of designs, in particular the net-like distribution of dots applied over the abdomen. † (Cate Lineberry, Tattoos – The Ancient and Mysterious History, page 2, Para 2, line 4) Scarification Scarification is another form of putting design on the human body. Scarification also known as cicatrization changes the skins texture by cutting into the skin and then controlling how the skin heals.Many substances can be added to the cuts to turn the scars int o raised bumps, or change the color of the skin. â€Å"In some cultures, a smooth, unmarked skin represents an ideal of beauty, but people in many others see smooth skin as an unfinished, unattractive surface† (American Museum of Natural History http://www. amnh. org/exhibitions/bodyart/glossary. html#totop, para 10) In South Africa the practice of Scarification has lasted centuries and the techniques used to produce the scared images have been passed from generation to generation.The custom of scarification is usually carried out by the young women of the tribe as a sign of beauty. The scar designs can be found on the chest, stomach and backs of the tribal women. The following image shows three Tembu women with decorative scarification. Piercings Body piercing is probably one of the more welcomed forms of body modification and involves piercing anything from earlobes to noses and even sexual body parts. Throughout history body piercings have been used to show status and age, and as wards and talismans.There are many different types of piercings and many different reasons each was used. Sailors would get a gold earring to help improve eyesight, Ancient Egyptian women would pierce their belly buttons to ward off demons from entering through the belly button and harming their unborn children, Roman soldiers would pierce the nipple area of their armor. In many cultures ear piercings are done to show that the recipient of the piercing has reached puberty. In Borneo the parents of the child each take turns piercing an earlobe to symbolize the child’s dependence on their parents.During the time of the Roman Empire, Roman soldiers would wear upper body armor that was shaped like a man’s chest they pierced the armor where the nipples would be and used those rings to clasp their cloaks into place. This practice lead to the belief that they would only clasp their cloaks to actual nipple rings. Women of the 14th century were known for wearing such lo w necklines that their nipples were often visible, women then began to pierce their nipples or use nipple caps to add decoration to their chest, sometimes fragile chains of gold, pearls, or diamonds would be linked between the piercings.These piercings were mainly worn among the upper classes of the 14th century. (http://www. painfulpleasures. com/piercing_history. htm) The Prince Albert is now as it once was, a popular male piercing, that not only enhances sexual stimulation but also allows the wearer to control where their penis lay inside the pants. â€Å"The Prince Albert piercing is named after Prince Albert who was the husband of Queen Victoria of England. He was reputed to have had this piercing done prior to his marriage to the queen around 1825, at that time Beau Brummel started the craze for ultra-tight men’s trousers.Because the pants were so tight, the penis needed to be held to one side or the other so as not to create an unsightly bulge. To accomplish this some men had their penis pierced to allow it to be held by a hook on the inside of the trousers, this piercing was called a â€Å"Dressing Ring† at the time because tailors would ask if a gentleman dressed to the left or the right and tailor the trousers accordingly, tailors to this day will ask if you dress to the left or right. † (http://www. ainfulpleasures. com/piercing_history. htm ) Body Modification Making the body thinner and more graceful is something many cultures do, long thin neck lines, curved shapely torso’s these are signs of beauty through the world. Throughout Europe and North America corsets have been a popular way to give a woman curves and emphasize or deemphasize parts of her body. On the Thai-Burmese border tribal women wear heavy brass neck rings to elongate their necks as a symbol of beauty.Women of the Karen tribe wear heavy brass neck rings that give the appearance of long necklines. This particular form of body modification has likely been a Kayan tradition for over a thousand years. The primary reasons for wearing them now are for beauty and to preserve their culture while they are in exile. These long necks are a symbol of beauty in the tribe. The interesting thing about these neck rings is that they do not actually stretch the neck; instead the rings ush down on the muscles around the collarbone giving the impression of a longer neck. Corsets were first popularized in the mid-16th century. At that time, the garment was used not to minimize the waist but to enhance the bust. The Victorian era brought many changes to corsets, which are still with us today. Modern corsets are shaped in the same way as the 1800s corset. Steel stays were introduced in this area, allowing corsets to reshape the body. Tight lacing was common, further reducing the waist and enhancing the bust and hips.Tight lacing is a way to wear the corset where over a period of months or years a woman can were the corset taking it off only at night to s leep and each day when it is put on again it is tightened a little more than the day before. This is done so that the body holds the shape given when the corset is taken off. Shapely hour glass figures are a seen as a mark of beauty. Throughout history people from all over the world have used various forms of body modification to tell people who they are. Tattoos, Lip plates, Piercings, Brass Neck rings, all say something about the person they are attached to.For centuries tribes have used tattoos to mark tribal leaders and spiritual leaders or to mark when a child has come into puberty and can be counted as an adult. Tribes in Africa use the body as a canvas and mark them with scar designs because a bare unmarked body is seen as an unused surface, while in other cultures an un-scarred unblemished body is seen as a thing of beauty. Brass neck rings are used to create beauty on women in tribes who find that the long, elegant design of a neck should be shown and accentuated.Piercings have always been used for a wide variety of reasons; to mark an age, to decorate a bare chest, or to help improve eyesight and ward off demons. The reasons behind body modification vary, from culture to culture and for each gender. â€Å"These permanent designs-sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate, always personal- have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments, and even forms of punishment. †(Cate Lineberry, Tattoos -The Ancient and Mysterious History, Para 1 line 3)

Anorexi A Call For Help - 1882 Words

Anorexia: A Call for Help Many people are not sure what it means to have or be around someone who has Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia is one of the leading causes of death in young women, and a crippling mental illness that can potentially ruin a person’s life (Kranz and Maloney 8). About one in 250 girls has suffered with some type of eating disorder at a point in their lives. This disease is taking over the lives of many young women, and we need to help stop it. Anorexia, which comes from the Greek words an- meaning without and orexis which means appetite is a very complicated eating disorder. An eating disorder is a condition in where a person becomes obsessed with food, whether it is avoiding food or overeating. The eating disorder†¦show more content†¦Some of the reasons are physical abuse, mental abuse, low self-esteem, genetics, and hormones. When a child is younger, almost everything has an impression on her even if she does not think it will. For example, if a teenager was hit a lo t when she was younger, it can lead to anorexia or bulimia or even something worse. Physical abuse can often times trigger a young person to be unhappy with his or her body and want to change it drastically. However, it has not been proven that it can cause an eating disorder. Another possible cause for eating disorders can be mental abuse. Mental abuse can be caused from something tragic that recently happened in the person’s life, such as a divorce or a parent’s dying. Low self-esteem is another highly responsible cause for eating disorders. Low self-esteem can be brought on by a number of things. Some people with anorexia may have previously been a compulsive eater or even overweight at one point in their life (Kranz and Maloney 52). These types of things can sometimes cause a person to feel as though his or her body is not good enough and they need to fix it. Some people also believe that an eating disorder can belong in someone’s genes. Certain e ating disorder may in fact be traced back to other family members who once suffered from them or similar disorders. Other aspects play a role in eating disorders

Women Of The Roman Empire - 1022 Words

In the Roman Empire, and in most ancient societies, the role and status of woman has been obscured by the bias of ancient male writers. Just as women are viewed in ancient Greece, and Imperial China, women in the Roman Empire were viewed as inferior to men. In the Roman Empire it was believed that women should be under the control of a guardian, which controls the aspects of her life. This guardian could be her father, husband, or a male relative (Nystrom). Marriage in the Roman Empire was not romantic, it was often set up by an agreement between two families. Men normally married around their mid-twenties and women married in their teens. As these ages were approaching, the parents would try to find a suitable partner that could improve the family’s social class and wealth. From there, the lives of women varied based on their position in society. Those from a higher class had their daily labor done by slaves, while those without a slave lead a life of leisure. Women without a slave were in charge of raising children and keeping up the house. Women held many important roles when it came to family, and the household in spite of their social status placed below that of men (Cartwright). The main duty of a women in the Roman Empire was to look after the home, and nurture a family, specifically by bearing a child. The Roman family was typically male dominated, which would be headed but the most senior male figure. It is shown that there is a close dependence of women on theirShow MoreRelatedWomen During The Roman Empire921 Words   |  4 Pagesthere has also been much diversity and contradictory evidence for women in the Roman Empire. On one hand, the cultural assumption was that women were inferior to men and they should obey their husbands or fathers. While, on the other hand, there is scattered evidence that women were engaged in commerce, heading of the household, and influencing politics. An approach to this second assumption was suggested that their participation by women in all these affairs was not â€Å"real.† It may have appeared thatRead MoreThe Role Of Women During The Roman Empire1299 Words   |  6 PagesWhen the Roman armies began their ultimat ely successful invasion of Britain the contrasts between the invading culture and the invaded culture became easily apparent. Due to the invasion, the two cultures were forced into one space to interact and interchange with each other in many ways. In some ways they were found to be similar, and in others the cultures varied widely. Throughout the course of this paper I will compare and contrast the role of women in the indigenous Celtic society and that ofRead MoreThe Role Of Women During The Han Dynasty And The Roman Empire1139 Words   |  5 PagesThe role of women in both the the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire women was ambiguous. The Han Dynasty ruled from 206 BCE–220 CE. Much later came the Roman Empire, which lasted from 27 CE-476 CE. In these civilizations, elite women were treated very differently than men because of their gender. Women had limited political freedom, their marriages were not loving partnerships, and women’s social expectations oppressed th em. Although the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire were separated by many milesRead MoreComparing and Contrasting the Role of Women during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages1564 Words   |  7 PagesPlan of Investigation This investigation strives to compare and contrast of the role of women during the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages. The inquiry is significant because in order to understand the culture and ethics of the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages it is crucial to understand the importance of women. The issues that will be addressed include: the role of women in the Roman Empire, the role of women in the Middle Ages, and the similarities as well as the differences of the two major timeRead MoreThe Roman Empire And Republic940 Words   |  4 Pages Since the Roman Empire and Republic and the Christian Roman Empire were set in prolific time periods, they were powerful and cultured in their own standing. Society between these two, conclusively was supported by each community. Respectably, the following idea of society is comprised of religion, women, government, and rule. As religion is at the center of every community, the Christian Roman Empire and Roman Republic and Empire held fast to their beliefs. To be part of the Christian religionRead MoreEdward Gibbon s Declaration Of The Reign1444 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"most happy and prosperous† time in the history of the human race bases its claims on what could be viewed as â€Å"superficial† aspects of the empire. When studying the Roman Empire, it’s difficult to not admire the stunning works, such as the House of Fawn in Herculaneum or Hadrian’s Villa. The wealth needed to create such places indicates the prosperity within the empire during this time. Gibbons claimed understanding on happiness and prosperity seem to have less to do with the personal lives of the humanRead MoreDifferences Between Roman Republic And Roman Empire865 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferences between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. With the many differences there are also some similarities between the two governing systems. A obvious difference is the time period the Roman Republic and Roman Empire lasted. A obvious similarity is they both occurred in Rome. Rome felt under constant threat, at the beginning of the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was initially ruled by the rich and powerful. This ruling began â€Å"After the overthrow of the monarchy, Roman nobles, eager toRead MoreRoman Achievements and Contributions1571 Words   |  7 PagesRoman Achievements Jigsaw Background: The period of great cultural achievements for the Roman Empire is referred to as the Pax Romana, or â€Å"Peace of Rome.† Beginning after the Republican Wars in 27 B.C., and lasting to about 180 A.D., this era was marked by general tranquility and unity across the empire. By this time, Rome had overtaken most of the Mediterranean world and had spread its culture. Family Religion The family was the basic unit of Roman society. Under Roman law, the male headRead MoreWomen of Ancient Rome China805 Words   |  4 PagesThe empires of Rome and China were very great ones, they both had many similarities and differences in the way they ran their empires. One major difference was the way they treated their women. Both Chinese and Roman women were unequal in social status than the men of the empires were, but they were definitely treated different in both empires. Women of China were treated quite harshly and were expected to take orders at all times by their husbands, and were to serve them always. This started toRead MoreSimilarities Between Rome And Han China990 Words   |  4 PagesEra, the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty emerged as two formidable forces in a world of conquest and empire-building. While Rome and Han China had similar methods of imperial consolidation concerning their patriarchal societies and upper-classes, the two differed greatly in their bure aucracies, policies regarding conquered peoples, and labor systems. Patriarchy was a prominent aspect of the societies of both empires. The family unit in Rome was ruled by paterfamilias, the male head, and women were thought

Aesthetic Music Educatin and the Influence of Bennett Reimer

An explicit concept since the late 1950s, aesthetic education first developed to provide a strong philosophical foundation for music education and continues to evolve as a solid theoretical orientation for current effective practices. Bennett Reimer has contributed much to the discussion and development of the value of aesthetic education for the teaching and learning of music. Others in music education also support and promote these ideals and focus on developing an improved understanding for music educators. Some scholars oppose the principles of an aesthetic education, recently demonstrated by David Elliott who favors a praxial philosophy of music education centered on musical performance. The work of Reimer shows an influence of these†¦show more content†¦Only with that awareness can the teacher adequately portray a genuine representation of the artistic values of music to students. Reimer describes aesthetic education as â€Å"the development of a sensitivity to the aesthetic qualities of things.† He consciously avoids using the term â€Å"definition† yet provides a much-appreciated explanation that achieves that function. Reimer further illustrates that MEAE should encourage our ability to perceive and respond to conditions of musical relationships (e.g. tension-release, expectation-deviation) in perceptible objects and events. Musical works may possess various qualities (such as functional ones), but the primary significance of music should lie in its aesthetic value. If we abandon this unique characterization of music and emphasize its societal role, we risk degrading ourselves as well as our work. As teachers, we mediate the interactions between our students and aesthetic objects and should seek to improve these relationships with different experiences. Yet, we must first ensure that students have the ability to perceive expressive conditions as well as the ability to respond to them. Reimer distinguishes that effective MEAE cultivates a person’s â€Å"ability to yield meanings from (a work of art’s) structures of interrelated sounds and to transform words, images, ideas, emotions, and any other socially

Rizal Free Essays

1. Floro Quibuyen 2. Teodoro Agoncillo 1 st Nationalist view Reform movement did not cause the Revolution DICHOTOMY: REFORM REVOLUTION Renato Constantino Echoed Agoncillo Accepts: Essentialist characterization of Agoncillo DICHOTOMY RIZAL BONIFACIO 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Rizal or any similar topic only for you Order Now NOT based on historical FACTS FACTS: (REFORMIST) Province of Spain NOT for INDEPENDENCE Anti-Friar NOT anti-SPANIARD Not for Armed Revolution RIZAL: El Fili and Manifesto to the Filipino People Denounced the Revolution Antonio Luna: x Katipunan 4. MIDDLE CLASS Illustrados Economic interest Cautious and conservative MASSES Revolutionary consciousness born of praxis INARTICULATE MASSES â€Å" inchoate† revolutionary consciousness European Liberalism 5. REFORMIST Middle class Illustrados Rizal La Liga Filipina â€Å" hatred of the masses† REVOLUTIONARIES Masses Bonifacio Katipunan 6. RIZAL Assimilationist Self-serving Counter-revolutionary BONIFACIO Fighting for the country’s liberty 7. What are the â€Å"historical FACTS† How did the people of the 19 th century perceive events? 8. Why, of all heroes, was Rizal the most venerated in the 19 th century nationalist movement? What was it in Rizal’s life and works that struck a chord in popular imagination? What was Rizal’s nationalist agenda? How was it received by the revolutionaries? Did the people of the 19 th century perceive Liga and the Katipunan as ideologically and strategically opposed political organizations ? Did the revolutionaries perceive Rizal as an assimilationist and therefore opposed revolution ? Did they, for that matter, perceive Reform and Revolution as opposed political agendas? . Ileto’s : â€Å"history from below† Two opposite and irreconcilable meanings Modernist discourse Traditional discourse Reproduces the Agoncillo-Constantino binary opposites Answers the first 2 questions 10. MODERNIST Elite/official Liberal reformist Elite TRADITIONAL Folk/ vernacular Tagalog christ Masses â€Å" realm of the familiar† 11. RIZAL Prim and proper Sensitive Anti-SPAIN D EL PILAR Ambitious Politically shrewd Anti-FRIAR 12. Other scholars: Cesar Majul John Schumacher Sesuho Ikehata Austin Coates Leon Guerrero 13. 861-1882 : Formative years Calamba, Binan Ateneo and the Jesuits Gomburza Martyrdom Imprisonment of Teodora Alonzo Literary ventures Encounter with the guardia civil 14. 1882-1887: European Sojourn Enlightenment education Medical studies Patriotism Noli me tangere 1887-1888: The turning point Calamba Hacienda case 15. 1888-1892 : Second Sojourn Radicalization of Rizal Historical, ethnological, and linguistic studies Los Indios bravos Break with the del Pilar and La Solaridad El Filibusterismo 16. 1892-1896: The Moment of Truth Rizal and the Revolution La Liga Filipina and the Katipunan Exile to Dapitan Arrest Martyrdom 17. Strategy and tactics – Reform or Revolution Calamba Hacienda Case Rizal’s break with del Pilar’s La Solidaridad 18. Independence Peaceful struggle DREAM Assimilation MISTAKE 19. Letters to Blumentrit T he Filipinos had long wished for HISPANIZATION and they were wrong in aspiring for it. It is Spain and not the Philippines who ought to wish for the assimilation of the country. (Feb 21 1887) 20. A peaceful struggle shall always be a dream , for Spain will never learn the lesson of her South American colonies. Spain cannot learn what England and the United States have learned. But , under the present circumstances , we do not want separation from Spain. All that we ask is great attention, better education, better government, one or two representatives, and grater security for persons and our properties. Spain could always win the appreciation of Filipinos if she were only reasonable. But, quos vult perdere Jupiter, prius dementat! (Jan 26, 1887) 21. A peaceful struggle shall always be a dream , for Spain will never learn the lesson of her South American colonies. Spain cannot learn what England and the United States have learned. But , under the present circumstances , we do not want separation from Spain . All that we ask is great attention, better education, better government, one or two representatives, and grater security for persons and our properties. Spain could always win the appreciation of Filipinos is she were only reasonable. But, quos vult perdere Jupiter, prius dementat! (Jan 26, 1887) 22. Rizal’s pseudonym : Laong-la’an ( Ever Prepared ) Almost Fatalistic attitude Spain would never accede to the demand of reforms, and so, if the revolution was going to happen, it was going to happen ; one must, therefore , be prepared for any eventuality. (June 19, 1887) 23. I can assure you that I have no desire to take part in conspiracies which seem to me premature and risky in the extreme. But if the government drives us to it, that is to say, when there remains to us no other hope than to seek our ruin in war, when the Filipinos shall prefer to die rather than to endure their miseries any longer , than I too shall advocate violent means . It is Spain who must choose between peace and ruin†¦ I cannot believe that you, as a free man, as a citizen of Europe, would like to advise your good friend to endure all and to act like a cowardly man, without courage. Guerrero trans. 1963, 286) 24. Reform = Political TACTIC Distinguished from: Longer strategy of SEPARATISM NOT mutually exclusive (Reform vs Revolution) Rizal : did NOT have ILLUSION of the reform movement Appreciated: tactical value 25. Letter to del Pilar I am assiduously studying the events in our country. I believe that only intelligence can redeem us , in the material and in the spiritual. I still persist in this belief. Parliamentary representation will be a burden on the Philippines for a long time. If our countrymen felt otherwise than they do, we should reject any offer of such representation but, the way we are, with our countrymen indifferent, representation is good. It is better to be tied by the ankles than elbow to elbow . What can we do! (Guerrero) 26. The propaganda for assimilation is necessary but separatist propaganda should be even more active for the practical thing is to seek adherents in shaking off the yoke since we should not obtain and even if we did we would work for independence , banding together, making ourselves into apostles to gain men and money. For all this much study, a great deal of fact and prudence and no boasting of our strength will be required†¦ 27. †¦ I think you understand me well enough†¦ I shall go, then, to Manila and in all my acts keep ever in mind my duty as a separatist †¦ You already have then a follower around here who will work with constancy (Guerrero) 28. Agoncillo-Constantion Dichotomy Reform VS Revolution 19 th Century Reform = tactic Long-term: SEPARATISM Revolution 29. Develop national consciousness : Propaganda (REFORM) Attain nationhood Obtain the knowledge that was not available to the Philippines but come home and work among your people. How to cite Rizal, Essay examples

Pablo Picassos Bequest Of Gertrude Essay Example For Students

Pablo Picassos Bequest Of Gertrude Essay Pablo Picasso was a very famous artist in his time. I have always found his work very interesting and unique. He has a style all his own and, I believe that this was what made him so famous and at the same time controversial. The painting I have chosen is called Gertrude. Pablo Picasso was born in Spain to Jose Ruiz and Maria Picasso. He later adopted his mothers more distinguished maiden name Picasso. Picasso was a child prodigy who was recognized as such by his art-teacher father who ably led him along. Picasso was taught for a few years and after he attended the Academy of fine art in Curna Spain where his father taught. Picassos early drawings such as, Study of A Torso, After A Plaster Cast 1894-1895 Musee Picasso, Paris, France demonstrates the high level of technical proficiency he had accomplished by the age of 14 years old. Encarta 2000 Picassos artwork is classified as modern art witch started in the early 1880s to the mid 1970s. In 1885 his family moved to Barcelona, Spain after his father obtained a teaching post at that citys academy of fine Arts. Picasso was admitted to advanced classes in the academy after he completed in a single day the entrance examination that applicants were traditionally given a month to complete. In 1897 Picasso left Barcelona to further his study at the San Fernando academy in Madrid witch was located in the Spanish capital. His academic studies did not last long in Madrid. He was unhappy with the training he was receiving and he left and returned back to his home in Barcelona Spain. Picasso visited Paris some time around the early 1900s. After that visit he decided that he would move back and fourth between Spain and Paris. He did this until 1904 when he finally settled down in the French capital. At this time Picasso started to explore and experiment with different art styles that were modern. This portion of his life is called the blue period. This was because of the blue tones Picassos paintings had. During the year of 1905 to 1906 a radical change took place in Picassos style of painting once again. His choice of colors and mood were evident in this period of his life. He used subtle pinks and grays that were often highlighted by brighter tones. This was tone as his rose period. Rodenbeck, Comptons, Joseph Along with her brother Leo, Gertrude Stein was among the first Americans to respond with enthusiasm to the artistic revolution in Europe in the early years of the twentieth century. The weekly salons she held in her Paris apartment became a magnet for European and American artists and writers alike, and her support of Matisse, Braque, Girls, and Picasso was evident in her many acquisitions of their work. For Picasso, this early patronage and friendship was of major importance. Picassos portrait of the expatriate writer was begun in 1905, at the end of his Harlequin period and before he took up Cubism. Stein is shown seated in a large armchair, wearing her favorite brown velvet coat and skirt. Her impressive demeanor and massive body are aptly suggested by the monumental depiction. In her book The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas 1932, Stein described the making of this picture: Picasso had never had anybody pose for him since he was sixteen years old. He was then twenty-four and Gertrude had never thought of having her portrait painted, and they do not know either of them how it came about. In any case, it did, and she posed for this portrait ninety times. There was a large broken armchair where Gertrude Stein posed. There was also a couch where everybody sat and slept. There was a little kitchen chair where Picasso sat to paint. There was a large easel and there were many canvases. She took her pose, Picasso sat very tight in his chair and very close to his canvas and on a very small palette, which was of a brown gray color, mixed some more brown gray and the painting began, and he created the rich earth tones that we see in the painting. Without warning one day Picasso painted out the whole head. I cant see you anymore when I look, he said irritably, and so the picture was left like that. Picasso was arguably the most influential artist of the twentieth century EssayHer nose is rather elongated which adds more to the way her eyes look. The dark lines around the eyes, mouth and nose shows off the light and dark areas and enhances her facial features as well. There is a small line on the upper right hand side of the right nostril that almost looks as if it were a scar but in all actuality it is just part of the line that he uses to enhance the nose area. Gertrude has no expression on her face. She looks plain and serious. Picasso shaded the right side of her neck witch shows the contrast between light and dark. Witch indicates that she is facing the light or at least that is the way he drew it. The light seams to be in the center so it shines in front of her and not on the side. Because most of the light is on the upper part of her body her hands do not look as light as her face. Her left hand is on her lap, her right hand is also on the armrest but her entire arm is on it. Gertrude is wearing a dark brown jacket witch makes her complexion look even lighter. The only piece of clothing that is light on Gertrude is her scarf. Even Gertrude shirt is brown it resembles the color of the wall except her shirt is more of a golden brown instead of a walls that are more like a background dull brown. The background is dull brown and it is rough not smooth. The thin lines make it appear rough and almost like bricks or another type of material that is not as smooth. Above Gertrude head the background is lighter. That area is light a grayish and, you can see part of her shadow. Furthermore I believe that the painting is very unique especially since it was of a true person except the head witch I find kind of strange. Why did he not complete Gertrudes head when he had the chance? Why did he not complete her right then and there, even more fascinating is how is it that Gertrude ended up resembling the painting years later. I dare to suggest that the relationship between Picasso and Gertrude could have been a mother son relationship or just close friends. What originally drew me to this painting was that I had thought that it was a family remember like his grandmother or maybe even his mother. It had that personal touch and it reminded me of my grandmother. I thought it was different from some of the paintings that I have seen. This painting is fairly simple but it has a lot of meaning behind it that we will never know. I think another thing that attracted me to this painting was it simplicity. There was nothing to distract you from the main object witch was Gertrude. The reason I say this is because sometimes artists have a lot of things on in their paintings and more then one object and sometimes it can be rather distracting. Picasso has done so many paintings some of them include the Tragedy 1903, Girl Reading at the Table 1834, Crucifixion 1934, Dorra Maar 1937 and so many others. Picasso had a very unique sense of style. His willingness and open exploration to try new and different things made him a great artist in his time. He had many talents, he not only painted but, he was a sculptor, he did drawings, he worked with ceramics and he was also a poet which no one really new about. This is only a small glimpse at this artist diverse life and career as an artist. Picasso has contributed a lot to modern art. He has done so much and we have the privilege of being able to see his work displayed in museums.