Final answer:
Picasso's painting The Old Guitarist represents the desperation and survival of artists, symbolized through the contrasting colors of the guitar against the blue-dominated palette, reflecting perseverance amidst suffering.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emotional significance of the guitar that Picasso painted in The Old Guitarist can be interpreted as a symbol of artists' struggles and survival. Living in poverty in Paris, Picasso himself experienced and sympathized with such struggles, which have become a theme in the works of his blue period. These feelings of despondency and the solitary battle against adversity are acutely encapsulated in his painting, where the guitar stands out in contrast against the melancholic hues of blues that dominate the work. The long arms and frail figure of the old, blind man holding the guitar reflect an image of persistence in the face of near-death existence, underlining the perseverance inherent to the artistic life. The emotional resonance of this instrument, a familiar symbol in Spanish culture and Picasso's work, lies in its representation of a lifeline amidst overwhelming melancholy — a glimmer of color and hope against a bleak backdrop.