Master inspirations: a survey of Picasso's six muses at Vancouver Art Gallery
A new exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) offers a unique perspective on Picasso’s relationship with the women in his life.
'Picasso: the Artist and his Muses' is remarkable in its consolidation of the historical and photographic archive of Picasso’s wives and lovers, from Fernande Olivier to Jacqueline Roque. While there have been other exhibitions examining Picasso’s relationships (notably 2014’s exhibition 'Picasso & Jacqueline: The Evolution of Style' at New York’s Pace Gallery), this is one of the first to focus on all six women who were his long-time partners and 'muses'.
Curated by Katharina Beisiegel, deputy director of Art Centre Basel, (a city known for its Picasso collections and home to Herzog & de Meuron, designers of the new VAG) the exhibition aims to show the 'pictorial morphology' of Picasso’s relationships with the six women. In doing so, the curator hopes to 'empower' the women as active participants in his art, rather than mere passive objects of his desire.
With works on loan from 35 different collectors, and with full cooperation from Picasso’s family and foundation, highlights include early sketches of Fernande that show the beginnings of Picasso’s cubist tendencies; new photographs of former ballerina Olga Khokhlova; the 1939 Reclining Woman Reading, a portrait of Marie-Thérèse Walter contrasted in its rounded voluptuous lines to the angular, fragmented portrait of Dora Maar he painted on the same day; and the 1941 nude of Dora Maar that seems obviously influenced by her experiments in double exposure/split image photography.
Also present is the famous portrait of Françoise Gilot (the only woman who dared leave Picasso, mother of Paloma and a living, working artist) Woman With a Yellow Necklace. The black spot on the left side of her face is not a birthmark, but rather a cigarette burn 'branding' by the jealous Picasso.
The cosy domesticity of his life with Jacqueline – as evidenced in the 1971 double portrait Man and Woman – contrasts with her role as 'gatekeeper' to the artist: not only did she protect his precious art making time from fans and collectors, but also barred contact with family members from previous liaisons.
The VAG exhibition offers both a deeper understanding of the osmosis between Picasso and his muses and a treasure trove of on loan works by the 20th century’s most renowned artist. The show also speaks to the gallery’s goal of offering not only contemporary Canadian art, but as articulated by senior curator Ian Thom – who helped coordinate the arduous task of shipping the works to the rather remote West Coast city – 'bringing the best of the world to Vancouver.'
Also present is the famous portrait of Françoise Gilot (the only woman who dared leave Picasso, mother of Paloma and a living, working artist). Pictured
The VAG exhibition offers both a deeper understanding of the osmosis between Picasso and his muses and a treasure trove of on loan works by the 20th century’s most renowned artist. Pictured: Seated Nude, 1922.
INFORMATION
’Picasso: the Artist and his Muses’ is on view until 2 October. For more information, visit the VAG website
ADDRESS
Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6Z 2H7
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
TELEPHONE
604.662 4719
-
First look: Western Mongolia meets Kew Gardens in John Pawson and Oyuna Tserendorj’s cashmere throws
Architectural designer John Pawson and cashmere designer Oyuna Tserendor have collaborated on a cashmere throw collection inspired by Pawson’s 70m Lake Crossing in the Royal Botanical Gardens
By Scarlett Conlon Published
-
How to buy art: the accessible new market
Thanks to a growing pool of art advisers, digital intelligence and collector groups, buyers are better equipped than ever
By Annabel Keenan Published
-
The coolest design-led coffee shops in Seoul
Seoul counts more coffee shops per capita than any other city in the world – cut straight to our six must-visit spots
By Robert Schneider Published
-
Kapwani Kiwanga considers value and commerce for the Canada Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2024
Kapwani Kiwanga draws on her experiences in materiality for the Canada Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale
By Hannah Silver Published
-
AA Bronson on the radical, enduring legacy of General Idea
General Idea, an art group that pioneered a queer aesthetic, is celebrated in a retrospective at the National Gallery of Canada (opened during Pride Month and running until 20 November 2022). Surviving member AA Bronson speaks about their origins, and impact on art and social justice
By Benoit Loiseau Last updated
-
Stan Douglas in Venice: a hypnotic chronicle of youth, revolt and liberation
Stan Douglas’ captivating two-part exhibition for the Canada Pavilion in Venice is a haunting and meticulous reconstruction of historical events
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith Last updated
-
Adam Pendleton’s Canada solo show explores fragmentation of language and representation
‘These Things We’ve Done Together’, at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), marks Adam Pendleton’s first solo show in Canada
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Photographing Montreal's urban spaces at night during lockdown
Follow photographer James Brittain's lens as he explores night time and urban spaces during the recent pandemic lockdown in Montreal, Canada, with his latest series, ‘Night Walks'
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Edward Burtynsky surveys the devastating scale of man’s footprint on the planet
By Tom Seymour Published
-
Westbank goes BIG in Toronto
By Alex Bozikovic Last updated
-
Night visions: Façade Festival 2016 lights up the streets of Vancouver
By Hadani Ditmars Published