The twentieth century of art, but not only, was a fast-paced century, a real battlefield, in which the grandeur of tradition in its various forms yielded to the innovative action of the avant-garde and the instances of artists who pursued the visionary nature of their ideas.
Among these, it is indisputable that Pablo Picasso has a place of absolute importance. As David Hockney (2001) writes, “Picasso created a way of seeing that included multiple aspects of vision, both physical and psychological: time, space, memory, desire...One still needed the painter’s hand and eye to communicate all this. And it will always be needed.” Picasso is the world’s most famous 20th-century Western artist who never exhausted his creative drive, exploring ever-changing fields.
Fifty years after his death on April 8, 1973, governmental and cultural institutions in France and Spain have launched the “Picasso Celebration 1973-2023” initiative: 365 days of programming with about fifty exhibitions and events organized with the support of European and North American cultural institutions, with the aim of presenting a comprehensive historiographical analysis of the great master’s work.
Picasso created a way of seeing that included multiple aspects of vision, both physical and psychological: time, space, memory, desire...One still needed the painter’s hand and eye to communicate all this. And it will always be needed.
David Hockney
Through different curatorial approaches, each appointment will have a particular purpose: the deep relationship between Picasso and the European artistic heritage will be analyzed, considering his connection with masters such as El Greco and Velázquez but also with contemporary artists; the evolution of his artistic practice will be considered, recounted by giving relevance to the specificities of each period; and a revisiting of his work with respect to contemporary issues will be encouraged.
This journey will conclude with a major symposium at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in early December and the opening of the Center for Picasso Studies at the Musée National Picasso-Paris.
Here is a list of the major exhibitions to visit related to this initiative, between spring 2023 and early 2024.
Opening Image: Picasso in Fontainebleau – MoMA, New York, Photo by Ralph Daily on Flickr
All other images were provided by the museums in question.