EinsteinFest" Einstein, Picasso -- Space, Time and the Beauty that Causes Havoc October 17, 2005

Arthur I. Miller, Professory of History and Philosphy of Science, University College London

The most important scientist of the 20th century, and its most important artist, went through their periods of greatest creativity almost simultaneously and in remarkably similar circumstances: Einstein's special theory of relativity and Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. It turns out they were both working on the same problem: the nature of space and time and, more particularly, simultaneity. When they produced these astonishing works, Einstein and Picasso were not the distinguished elderly figures that later became so familiar: they were in their twenties, unknown, feisty, dirt-poor, and prone to getting into trouble -- their personal and creative beauty caused havoc.