Carles Casagemas

Carles Antoni Cosme Damià Casagemas i Coll (Carlos Casagemas) (September 27, 1880, in Barcelona, Spain – February 17, 1901, in Paris, France) was a Spanish painter and poet. He is known for his friendship with Pablo Picasso, who painted several portraits of Casagemas. They traveled around Spain and eventually to Paris, where they lived together in a vacant studio.

Casagemas fell in love with Germaine, a model they had portrayed; however, Casagemas was unable to consummate the relationship due to impotence. This, along with his descent into depression and mood swings, led to several suicide attempts. Casagemas attempted suicide once more in a Paris cafe, during a farewell dinner party he held for himself. This time it was fatal, and Casagemas died at a hospital later that evening. This event is widely recognized as inspiring Picasso's Blue Period.

Early life and family

Carles Antoni Cosme Damià Casagemas i Coll (Carlos Casagemas) was born into an upper class, cultured family on September 28, 1880, in his family's home on Carrer Nou de la Rambla, Barcelona, Spain. Casagemas's father, Manuel Casagemas i Llabrós (1833–1898), had an extensive library, spoke seven languages, and became a certified interpreter. His sister, Lluïsa Casagemas (1873–1942), became a well-known composer. During this time, Casagemas also began abusing alcohol and various narcotics. Picasso painted multiple portraits of Casagemas around that time. Eventually, the two took up residence in a vacated studio owned by Isidre Nonell located in Montmartre. Casagemas quickly fell in love with Germaine, while Odette began sleeping with Picasso. Despite his deep feelings for Germaine, Casagemas, due to his impotence, could not consummate their relationship and quickly fell into a deep depression.

Attempted murder of Germaine and suicide

On February 17, 1901, Casagemas arranged a farewell dinner for himself at the Hippodrome Cafe in Paris. and much later in another painting The Three Dancers.

Solo exhibit In 2014, the National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, MNAC) put up the first major exhibit dedicated solely to Casagemas's work.