Topic > Spanish artist Pablo Picasso's guitar sculpture

Narrator 1: 7–9 Guitar. Made in 1914 by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, 1881 – 1973. Sheet metal and wire, 30 inches high, 13 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Narrator 2: This sculpture of a guitar is slightly smaller than an average guitar. It is made up of layers of thin sheet metal cut or bent into various shapes. Unlike most sculptures, it hangs high on the wall, as in Picasso's studio. Although three-dimensional, much of the volume is suggested through shadows, rather than actually depicted. Unlike a real guitar, this one is open at the front so the inside of the guitar is visible. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although it is made of metal, the material could be mistaken for brown paper or cardboard. The guitar is hung vertically, with the neck at 12 o'clock. In the center there is an open cylinder representing the soundhole; it is about three inches wide and sticks out about five inches. The base of the cylinder is attached to the back of the guitar with small tabs that fan out around the circumference. Four strands, like guitar strings, run vertically along an au-shaped channel, which represents the neck of the guitar. They stop about three-quarters of the way up, where they are attached to a horizontal crossbar. At the top of the neck there is an inverted triangle, which symbolizes the head of the guitar. The body of the guitar is made up of layers of paper-thin sheet metal cut and folded into different shapes. The bottom layer is flush with the wall. It is the largest piece and forms the outline of the instrument, cut in an hourglass shape on the left side and in a rectangular shape on the right. Above this layer is a slightly smaller rectangular sheet. The left and right sides are folded up like an open box. These allude to the sides of the guitar, which would normally create a hollow, closed interior, but in Picasso's version, the front is open. The next layer sits flat against the bottom right corner of the box-shaped layer below. Its right side is shaped like an hourglass, mirroring the curves of the left side. The bottom is rounded, just like a real guitar would be. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The inside edge of this curvilinear shape is cut in a backward L shape, framing the bottom right side of the soundhole. Below, attached to the bottom of the sculpture, is a piece of metal about six inches square. It leans towards the viewer at a 45 degree angle and creates a shadow against the wall.