Picasso *is* just plain ugly. Artsy fartsy. As bad as writers who write "significant" novels (think New York Times book reviews), or musicians who play music that shrieks in your ears.
Self-portrait of a guy who cut off his ear, done crudely, that's art? Art is supposed to say something. That doesn't say too much to me, only a suicidal idiot who can't paint very well.