Item of the Week: Picasso Guitars 1912-1914

New to the Chrysler library this week is "Picasso Guitars 1912-1914." Published in conjunction with the exhibition by the same name at the MoMA, the book features photographs of the sculpture along with essays detailing the historical and technical background of the series.

"Sometime between October and December 1912, Pablo Picasso made a guitat," curator Anne Umland writes in the preface. "Cobbled together from cardboard, paper, string and wire, materials he cut, folded threaded and glued, Picasso's purely visual instrument resembled no structure ever seen before."

So unlike sculptures of the past, Picasso's guitars would not look out of place amongst children's art work, cobbled together together with recycled newspaper and cardboard. But, as the book reminds us, Picasso's work was evolutionary. The exhibit traces the history of Picasso's guitars - from their turn as human figure to musical staff to art tool kit.

Some theorize that Picasso's guitars were stand-ins for his own body. Others believe their curvaceous figures were more reminiscent of Picasso's love interests at the time.

By echoing the shape of a music staff, a guitar's strings provide both a literal and figurative space for music to be created. Picasso frequently confuses the two ideas in his art.

Straight lines, curves, circles and a variety of textures make guitars the perfect pre-loaded art tool kit for any cubist. Picasso could easily pull these pieces apart, playing with their shape and function.

Umland summarizes best: "As humble in its subject as in its materials and mode of realization, it irrevocably changed the way we think - not only about what might constitute sculpture but about what can be defined as art."