Who doesn't know about this one? And as long as it's been there, that's as long as I still don't like it. Artner says it's a "conflation [blend, fusion] of the head of a woman and an Afghan dog". Oh, really? Couldn't tell it by me. Looks more like the head of an Afghan dog and the body of a woman. With angel's wings. Whatever. It is untitled - probably because Picasso couldn't tell either what it was.And I would like some explanation of exactly why it was given us. Picasso was never here. Artner specifically says it was a gift, so it was not a commission.
On the day I went, they were putting up the Christmas tree in Daley Plaza, so there was all this construction stuff around, striped tents, a kajillion little trees which would be lifted up to become one humongous big one. So my pictures are kind've limited. The picture in the Tribune of July 25th has kids on it, I think they're skateboarding. So some have fun with it, at least. Personally, I loathe it. Those Indians at Michigan Avenue or the bison in Humboldt Park are a much more fitting image of Chicago than this is.
January 16, 2009
Addendum: On a recent visit to the Art Institute, in the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, they had a display case with books concerning Picasso and his pets. One of those pets was indeed an Afghan dog. And the question was raised by the now defunct "Chicago's American" newspaper on Tuesday, September 20, 1966 ( it cost 7 cents!), "Is our Picasso really Picasso's Afghan hound, Kabul?" According to the article, the flowing oval forms on either side have been described as hair. Dog hair? Anyway, Picasso was 85 when this statue was unveiled. I just wish I could post a picture of an Afghan hound to compare.
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