11/1/13 – Picasso’s ‘Black and White Exhibition’ at the Guggenheim

If last night was devoted to opera then today was devoted to art and to the art of Pablo Picasso in particular. After a slow start in the first rain we have had, we trundled up to the Guggenheim for a look at a few of the great man’s sketches that had been spread about the walls. Contrary to Mr Wright’s design intentions the collection (which was arranged in chronological order) began on the ground floor and wound its way up to the 7^th floor. The audio guide provided not only significant assistance in providing chronology and interpretation it also included wonderful recorded accounts from his first child Maya. It was delightful to hear her recall special moments spent with her famous father particularly during WW2 when he refused to leave occupied Paris. What a hoot it must have been for them at the end of the war, after Paris had been liberated by US troops (some of whom had made a point of visiting with Picasso and his family and taking photographs of the many works of art they found displayed in Picasso’s studio) to read articles on the front pages of all the American newspapers claiming a major art scoop and displaying photos of what they claimed were ‘Picasso’s latest works’ but which were instead works by Maya and her younger siblings!  

It was a joy to watch his work evolve in form and complexity as he grew older, passed from place to place, wife to wife, lover to lover and muse to muse. He led a good life according to some in our party! The pieces explored removal of colour to highlight the formal structure and autonomy of form. The masterpieces on view included The Milliner’s Workshop (1926), The Charnel House (1944–45), The Maids of Honour (1957) as well as Female Nude with Guitar, (1909), Study for Sculpture of a Head, (1932), and Man with Pipe, (1923).

But for me, despite the quality and vast size of the Picasso collection, the greatest pleasure lay in turning occasionally to view the colour and movement of the people viewing the exhibition and how they caught the light to form an artwork in their own right. It was amazing and exactly what Mr Wright had intended. To celebrate my delight I bought some ‘Guggenheim’ coffee mugs!

Looks like we found our local chinese - The Shanghai on 3rd Avenue.