Arts & Culture
The Influence of African Masks on Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
Quick fact
Picasso reportedly said that the African masks at the Trocadéro museum were 'revelatory' and that they made him realize that painting could be more than just representation—it could be a weapon against convention.
Why this is interesting
You've likely seen Picasso's famous painting of five women with distorted faces. But did you know that those strange, mask-like faces were directly inspired by African art—and that Picasso himself said he felt terrified when he first encountered those masks?