Why is the guitar so present in art?

Art lovers have noticed how much this instrument has inspired a great number of artists at very different times. Whether totally destructured and disarticulated by illustrious artists or faithfully reproduced, its graphic form allows for classical or very audacious creations. Whatever the case, the guitar fascinates and opens up the imagination. Discover in this article, the masterpieces of the greatest artists of yesterday and today who were captivated by this instrument and who have marked the history of art.

The Guitar in Art

Painted over and over again by great artists such as Jan Vermeer van Delft, Picasso, Braque, Miro. it has also been created in 3D with strange sculptures made by Picasso by Arman and many others. Whether it is reproduced identically, destructured or disarticulated, the guitar, with its almost feminine curves, some artists are fascinated by them. It is surely for these reasons and many others, that the guitar is so represented in art.Let's now discover these few works, some of which, I'm sure, are not unknown to you.

The Guitar Player by Jan Vermeer van Delft

Perhaps not the best known by the general public, this oil on canvas is nevertheless one of the masterpieces of one of the greatest Dutch masters of the Golden Age. This painting would probably have been painted before 1670. The player, a young girl coquettish and cheerful, sitting ten-stringed guitar resting on the right leg with behind her a painting that allows to open the composition.

Pablo Picasso's old guitarist

Painted in 1903, this oil on canvas is part of the artist's blue period. A real little wonder, this painting is one of the artist's many masterpieces. Old and blind, the man sitting cross-legged holds his guitar against him, handle up. The cold colors used by the artist bring out the warm colors of the guitar. 

"I love Eva" Guitar by Pablo Picasso

Painted in 1912, this oil on canvas is a cubist still life difficult to explain as it is complex and unstructured. It is best interpreted by the admirer by whatever appreciation or inspiration received while viewing it.

Guitar and Fan by Marcelle Cahn

A painting from around 1926, it is here its minimalist composition with this stringless guitar and fans as well as its highly contrasting hot and cold colors that give this work all its power.Dutch Interior by Joan MiroPainted in 1928, this oil on canvas depicts a Dutch interior with a lute player, based on the painting by Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh.

The Rehearsal by Alejandro Carreno

Painted in acrylic, this canvas is fascinating for its composition of scenes depicting musicians and dancers, fish and all marine life. His color palette is bold and lively, influenced by his Caribbean roots.

Georges Braque's The Guitar Statue of Fear

Made in 1913 in his so-called Papiers collés period, which are not really collages but a pure invention of Braque. In the center of the painting is a guitar whose shape is cut out of paper and enhanced with charcoal. The oval space that is present in other paintings of this period is also present in this painting. We also see a glass with a stem, a musical score, inscriptions etc.

Arman's Abacale Guitar

Bronze guitar broken down into several volumes, this cut-out sculpture is truly fascinating. Its beautiful shaded brown patina made by Bocquel founder is just sumptuous.

Rise of Paul Villinski

This sculpture, like most of his works, is made of recycled materials often chosen for their evocative power. Here in this case a guitar, burned on one side, from which black butterflies emerge and wrap themselves around the guitar. The work of this artist is really surprising and poetic.These few works are undeniably representative of the fascination of this instrument in art. Particularly present in the work of Pablo Picasso, the series of guitars proposed by the artist between 1912-1914 is quite phenomenal. For most art historians, this characteristic series is the definitive transition from analytical cubism to synthetic cubism. A mark of cubism for this artist, the guitar is also a icon for others such as Braque, whose work described above is also part of synthetic cubism.