Product Details

• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: April 4, 2000
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767024389
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,177 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This two-hour program in A&E's Biography series thoroughly documents the life and work of Picasso. Subtitled A Primitive Soul, Picasso's Spanish roots are depicted in detail through the images that reoccur in his work as a painter. His father was a painter, although Picasso quickly surpassed him and is quoted as having said, "In art, one has to kill one's father." In Paris he quickly rose to fame, supported by fellow artists and collectors, although he was haunted by his main competitor, Matisse. Major biographers of Picasso, including John Richardson, comment on the complexities of his life and creativity, his passions for women, his overriding ambition, his competitive nature, as well as his remarkable talent at creating new styles of painting by taking from other artists. As one commentator states, "He was always a thief." Big shifts in his work occurred with each new sexual relationship. This program aptly conveys the multitude of his relationships, many of which were happening simultaneously. Enamored by his children when they were young, Picasso lived off the energy of those around him. He remained terrified of death and of being alone. After Franco came to power, he vowed he would never return to Spain under his rule. In 1944, he joined the Communist party and remained loyal to it for the rest of his life. This program is extraordinarily well researched and serves as an eloquent testimony to Picasso's creativity and influence on developments in modern art. --Anne Barclay Morgan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Art Imitates Life, November 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Biography - Pablo Picasso: A Primitive Soul [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Pablo Picasso was a remarkably prolific artist whose styles were groundbreaking for the 20th century. His equal appetite for women is presented in this video and one can, for the first time, see his portraits of the women he lived with, loved, abused and had children with. It is a long video (100 minutes) but it held my students spellbound. They hated him for his womanizing, but respected the art. Most of the images come from the Picasso Museum in Paris and are well documented. I loved the interviews with his daughter by Maria Therese, wife Francoise and child Paloma. They added much first hand information about Picasso and his other wives and mistresses. The artist himself is also featured creating some of his paintings. For a film to go along with this one, I also recommend Surviving Picasso which is based on the memoirs by Francoise of her life with him. Any art student or lover will enjoy this film.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend, February 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Biography - Pablo Picasso: A Primitive Soul [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A rich and fascinating story -- well done. Avoided pitfalls so many Picasso writers and movie makers don't -- not gossipy but rich with information.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Picasso Bio, March 18, 2008

By 

William Gekas "Bil Gekas" (Balboa Island, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Biography - Pablo Picasso: A Primitive Soul (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

I am replacing my copy of this Biography of "Pablo Picasso--a Primitive Soul" because I wore the old one out! I show it several times a year to my Art History classes and I have never tired of it. For some reason, many art history videos are short on images and long on tedious detail. This film has hundreds of paintings and drawings explained chronologically and in detail by interesting people who actually knew Picasso. Especially interesting to students is how much Picasso's art was influenced by his personal relationships with women.

Despite the 100 minute length, the vast majority of hundreds of students who have seen it in my class loved it. Even better, they have exhibited enthusiasm and understanding of Picasso's art. That, in turn, opened their eyes to other forms of 20th century art and increased their appreciation for art in general. They see Picasso as an imperfect genius who speaks to them in spite of his faults. A secondary benefit is opening dialogue about Picasso's great rival, Matisse. Norman Mailer sums it up when as he sees the flawed man and the great artist existing in the same man. Given the headlines, what could be more contemporary.