The “Genuine” History of the Picture in F. Umbral’s Novel “The Young Ladies of Avignon”

Abstract

The article analyzes the alternative history of the creation of the painting, presented in the novel by the Spanish writer F. Umbral «The Young Ladies of Avignon» (1995). The presence of elements of parody and burlesque in the poetics of the work, an arbitrary combination of historical, biographical information with fiction is noted. The hero-narrator in the novel writes a «saga about the 20th century», claims to be exceptionally authentic. A special place in this «epic» is occupied by the history of the Spanish avant-garde, embodied in Pablo Picasso and his painting «The Young Ladies of Avignon». In the context of the analysis of the theme of the history of the picture, it is concluded that the hero-novelist enters into a creative confrontation with the artist, tries by novel means to overcome the flat vision and the destructive effect of cubism, to return the epic perspective and depth to the models («real Avignon young ladies»).