When talented young artist Pigasso and Mootisse get tired of the hustle and bustle of city life and adoring fans they move out of town to find someplace to paint in peace. Even though they have never met before, Pigasso buys a house in the country right across from Mootisse, and Mootisse buys a house right across from Pigasso.
At first the two are great friends, exchanging art and paying visits. Unfortunately, a rivalry soon erupts as Pigasso insults Mootisse's paintings and as Mootisse makes fun of Pigasso's. Despite their differing styles, however, the two artists quickly learn they cannot live without their new found friendship and work together to create an "amazing work of heart".
When Pigasso met Mootisse closely mirrors the friendship, rivalry, and subsequent friendship of real-life artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. As Nina Laden points out in her informative afterward, Spanish Picasso met Matisse at a party after moving to Paris in the early 20th Century.
Laden's bold gouache illustrations are an art-lover's dream. Pigasso lives in a the broken Cubist world of Pablo Picasso's paintings, while Mootisse lives in the vibrant Fauvist landscapes of Henri Matisse; moreover, Laden includes visual nods to Jackson Pollack and Michaelangelo. It is interesting to note, and may be necessary to call into question the wisdom Laden's judgement, that two of the artists' most famous works are recreated in the book in pig and cow parodies: Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Picasso's portrayal of five naked prostitutes, and Matisse's La Danse, a painting of five nudes dancing in a circle. For that reason, this book may be more appropriate for older readers if we wanted to explore the specific paintings that are recreated in the book; however, When Pigasso met Mootisse can still be appropriate for younger readers, as long as those two paintings are dealt with judiciously.
Aside from the wealth of information on Picasso and Matisse tucked throughout, this book is simply an excellent story about friendship and embracing differences. It is also a wonderful introduction to the idea of giving and accepting "constructive criticism".
Whether we are interested in Fauvism, Cubism, the artists, criticism, or friendship, this book is an adorable must-read that would benefit any library.
Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse
I think it's great that you found a picture book that would be so well-suited for older students. You could definitely use this book with them as a jumping-off point to discuss art criticism, art history, and more!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I would be able to understand this book? Unlike you, I do not have a background in art.
ReplyDeleteYou would definitely be able to understand it! At the heart it is just the story of two friends who get in a fight over their differences, and eventually learn that friendship is more important! While being able to explain the art behind it (which is made easier by the afterword) definitely adds a layer of richness to the story, it is still a wonderful story with incredibly fun illustrations!
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to have either read or listened to it in my art classes in middle school even, even despite the fact that picture books are hardly ever found in middle school. It's a wonderful introduction to Matisse and Picasso and great for all ages!
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