This year marks Picasso’s centenary of passing, a milestone that began this Monday and will echo through 2023 with a broad program of 42 exhibitions and numerous events. These initiatives probe the artist’s persona and the radical shifts in his art, while openly addressing his controversial relationships with women.
France and Spain have laid out a full program that officially kicked off the celebrations. Is there more to say about Picasso? Yes, according to Carlos Alberdi, who chairs the commission, Spain and France are driving the initiative forward with energy and coordination.
The volume of exhibitions planned around the world in the coming months is proof of the ambition behind this anniversary. In total, around fifty shows will unfold globally, with a focus on Spain (16), France (12), and the United States (7). The aim is to introduce Picasso to broader audiences, including younger generations, by highlighting the breadth of his contributions.
“If there is an artist who defined the 20th century through cruelty, violence, passion, excess, and contradiction, it is Picasso,” said Culture Minister Miquel Iceta at the anniversary ceremony held before Guernica, alongside his French counterpart, Rima Abdul Malak.
Women and Picasso
The program does not shy away from the darker aspects of the painter’s life, notably his relationships with women. In recent years, a new feminist discourse has emerged in the arts world, and Picasso has faced scrutiny within that conversation, a topic that has generated extensive literature.
“Is it possible to separate life from an artist’s work? It is a challenging question. But can the undeniable flaws of life discredit the work? The answer is not simple,” Iceta stated at Guernica’s anniversary event.
The French Minister of Culture, who identifies as a feminist, emphasized that discussions should be serious and nuanced. “We cannot summarize Picasso’s entire legacy by his personal relationships; there are many facets to his influence.”
She recalled that Picasso’s appeal endures not only for his artistic prowess but also for his political impact. Guernica stands as a democratic symbol of art that resonates with ongoing global events, including the war in Ukraine, she noted.
Currently, only one exhibition in the program is planned with a distinct gender focus. It is unnamed for now and will take place at the Brooklyn Museum in June 2023, curated by Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby, whose work Nannette has influenced perceptions of Picasso and other major figures.
Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, the artist’s grandson, views the conversations as important when conducted earnestly. “The women who lived with Picasso were not imprisoned or persecuted. People live their lives as they choose. The discussion must be serious to uncover the truth,” he said.
A Thousand Faces of Picasso
Around the centenary, the program spans multiple media: sculpture at Fundacif3n Mapfre, works related to El Greco at the Museo del Prado, and pieces connected to Goya at the Musée Goya; Cubist explorations in New York’s Met, landscapes in the Cincinnati Museum, and works from the Solomon R. Guggenheim collection exploring Picasso’s evolution during adolescence.
The artist’s grandson, who established a foundation to steward his legacy, has lent numerous works for the upcoming exhibitions. In tandem, the National Picasso Museum in Paris will contribute more than 600 items, a collaboration pivotal to the ambitious program announced today.
Funding from Spain totals 6 million euros for the centenary—3 million from the government and 3 million from Teleff3nica as a sponsor. France has not disclosed its financial contribution publicly.
One of the most significant and expansive exhibitions will debut at the Pompidou Centre, gathering over 2,000 drawings and etchings spanning Picasso’s early days to his later years.
In Spain, the Museo Reina Sofeda will focus on 1906, a pivotal year in his early cubist experiments, with a major show entitled The Great Transformation. Another major project is the National Picasso Museum in Paris, redesigned to present a fresh reading of his collection with contemporary artists.
The Reina Sofeda Museum will host a congress on Picasso later this year, and in autumn 2023 a major symposium along with the opening of the Center for Picasso Studies at the National Picasso Museum in Paris is planned.