Why did Pablo Picasso's self portraits worsened over time?

[YourFutureEx]

I know some people would say things like "beauty is in the eye of beholder" or "the pic on the right is the real art" etc. But I want to know why an artist would shift from being hyper realistic to completely deformed abstract?

For more self portraits, click here

[weeee]

I think many people who are starting out forget that art is about self expression too.

They see art as this outward thing where it's about proving to others how skilled you are. And in non-art spheres, generally, painters who are able to pull off hyper realistic peices are usually more readily accepted and celebrated than some person with their weird abstract peice. So many people end up equating realism with "real skill" or "talent".

When you do get good enough in stuff like realism, after a point it becomes boring. I mean, keeping the skill required aside, you're drawing something that already exists. This is art, you can create ANYTHING that you want, why confine your creative freedom to the constraints of the real world?

More experienced artists aren't insecure about their art like newbies, so they can say fuck you and just do what they desire. At that point art is something thats coming directly from within you, its not about proving anything to anyone anymore. Its honest self expression.

[NamerOfStars]

My guess would be because he thought Dali was outweirding him (which isn't saying much; Dali outweirded EVERYBODY), and thought he was losing his niche as "the weird Spanish painter", so he had to up his game.

[Anonymous]

His style evolved over time. While abstract art may not appeal to you, it's not fair to say he "worsened" as an artist.

[msc545]

Perhaps the way he felt about himself also changed. I'm just guessing about this obviously.

[ThisDudeHere]

Didn't he have a developing mental condition?

[YourFutureEx]

I think he had dyslexia. But dyslexia doesn't affect art.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

They could be things he sees

[princeofromance]

I do not know much about his portraits.