Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1626: Chapter 1610: Art and Fashion Icon

The so-called ”a thought becomes Buddha, a thought becomes demon,” artists pursue art, and it’s highly possible they get trapped in their own world with no escape. Thus, most artists don’t live long, perhaps verifying the saying that heaven is jealous of talent.

But Picasso seemed to be the door God forgot to close. The life span of this painter indeed astounds people.

”Precisely because he lived long and spanned such a significant time period, Picasso’s body of work is incredibly vast. This famous painter was also nicknamed the productive role model because his works totaled nearly forty thousand pieces, including over seven thousand sketches, more than nineteen hundred oil paintings, over twenty thousand prints, and over six thousand flat paintings.”

Hearing these numbers from Bai Yishan, Su Qingqing couldn’t help but widen her eyes: ”Oh my, over forty thousand pieces, that’s truly the conscience of the industry, an absolute model worker!”

Bai Yishan nodded:

”Huaxia Country has a skit saying how art masters come to be: they endure, they live long to be called masters of art.”

”Picasso was one of the few in that era who didn’t die young and could personally see his works selling at sky-high prices. He was also the first living painter to see his works collected into the Louvre in Paris. Prior to him, in the art world, for one to become famous, unless they died, it was simply unimaginable!”

”Because of the sheer volume of works, the change in his artistic styles, direction, and even content exploration are equivalent to a condensed version of the history of modern European art.”

”He experienced the classical era, pioneered Cubism, skillfully maneuvered in the concrete world, and then opened people’s artistic fervor with an abstract perspective. So I think simply labeling Picasso as a modern art master or a European painter isn’t comprehensive; he should be seen as opening the door to modern art, through him, a larger world can be seen.”

Bai Yishan shared with a smile what she knew of Picasso from her mentor in France:

”Of course, this master not only lived long but was also full of what modern terms describe as ’incredibly confident.’ Do you know what name he gave to one of his self-portraits?”

Everyone shook their heads, looking puzzled.

Bai Yishan chuckled and said, ”YOELREY, it’s Spanish, translated to Chinese means, I am the king! Would you say he’s confident? Someone once asked him what art is, he instead asked them what art isn’t, leaving the questioner speechless.”

”Moreover, this painter was a trend-setting fashion icon, in 1950, Picasso took to wearing a mariner’s shirt. Consequently, it quickly became a trend that continues to this day.”

”Picasso’s native language was Spanish, but he was also fluent in French and English, traveling around the world, staying here and there to avoid conflict. The trend of vacationing in Southern France during summer was started by him. To this day, it’s still considered the trendiest way to vacation by people across European countries!”

Miss Yue was quite moved upon hearing this: ”This painter really lived a healthy life, he is likely unique in the history of world painting and even all art.”

Bai Yishan nodded, ”Yes, which is why my teacher admires him greatly, believing he is not just a painter, but also an idol, a trend, even a way of thinking, a lifestyle.”

”Back when I was in France, I would often submit works for my teacher’s review. If encountered with a very good piece, my teacher would always say, hmm, this is SoPicasso! Whenever we heard this, we understood immediately, knowing that work she probably liked or even admired very much.”

Su Qingqing was not interested in Picasso’s fashion or art, but in his gossip, so she curiously asked:

”So what’s with Picasso having lots of women? As far as I know, artists should be quite shabby and unkempt, where does he get the women from?”

Miss Yue couldn’t help but roll her eyes: ”Please, in that era, Picasso didn’t have depression, had all his ears intact, was healthy, lived to be very old, didn’t have a tragic history, was filthy rich, and had talent to spare. Not only was he high-profile but also very trendy; someone like this, today would be a Diamond Bachelor, truly tall, rich, and handsome, how could he not have women?”

Upon hearing this, Su Qingqing felt her question was indeed foolish, her face flushed red as she awkwardly touched her nose.

Bai Yishan nodded, ”Exactly, this great artist had lovers all over the world, whether they were in their prime or advanced in age, as long as they matched him spiritually, he never rejected. Of course, he had no need to learn how to flirt; his way of hitting on people was monotonous yet always effective: Miss, may I paint a portrait of you? I’m Picasso.”

”Uh...”

Upon hearing this, the group on deck was utterly speechless.

”This person is truly... straightforward.” Gu Xu couldn’t help but speak.

Beside him, Miss Yue glanced at Gu Xu, then at Huo Sining, and sneered:

”Mr. Gu, just admit you’re envious, you men hope to reach this highest level of natural pretentiousness, but all you can do is envy. At Picasso’s stature, he didn’t bother to show off; his fame was such that simply saying he was Picasso would likely leave women defenseless, especially sitting in front of him to have their portrait painted and getting a few extra sharp looks from the master would probably melt them completely.”

Listening to Miss Yue’s sarcastic remarks, Huo Sining found it very entertaining. She subconsciously thought of the scene where she was reborn during the auction of ambergris, being hit on by Gu Xu, and couldn’t help but laugh.

Bai Yishan thought it amusing upon hearing this too, but she continued: ”Picasso’s work was already collected into the Louvre while he was alive, which may very well be the highest accolade he received during his lifetime. My teacher’s admiration isn’t without reason.”

”In fact, in 1992, a French newspaper conducted a public opinion survey, in which Picasso was elected as the number one among the ten greatest painters in the world at that time with over forty percent of the vote.”

”Not only that, but currently, among the top ten highest auctioned paintings worldwide, Picasso’s works occupy four slots, with a total value exceeding twenty billion RMB, which shows the high status his works enjoy globally.”