
Myth of Pablo Picasso as a lone genius creator' unmaskedPablo Picasso served as the centre of several creative hubs, though the famous artist rarely acknowledged his creative collaborators.
by The Conversation
23-06-2022 18:21
in Art and Artists
Pablo Picasso as we have never seen him before he was not a lone genius creator: Image: Adobe stock
Review: Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition 2022: The Picasso Century, NGV International.
--
The Picasso Century exhibition presents Picasso as we have never seen him before.
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is not presented as the lone genius creator - a mythology promoted by the artist himself - but as being at the centre of several creative hubs. He was surrounded by groups of brilliant creative men and women and his influence was a powerful presence for the whole 20th century.
In his life, Picasso rarely acknowledged his creative collaborators, this exhibition sets out to redress this omission.
--
The great French poet, critic and art collector Guillaume Apollinaire, wrote of his friend Picasso:
His insistence of the pursuit of beauty has changed everything in art [ ] The great revolution of the arts, which he has achieved almost unaided, was to make the world his new representation of it.
Leo Stein, another of Picasso's friends and patrons, when writing on the rivalry between Picasso and Matisse observed:
Matisse saw himself in relation to others and Picasso stood apart, alone. He recognised others, of course, but as belonging to another system, there was no fusion.
Some people may not like the phallocentric persona of Picasso but he did effectively change the course of western art and, in the process, changed the way in which we see the world.
--
Pablo Picasso Spanish 1881-1973. Weeping woman 1937, oil on canvas, 55.2 x 46.2 cm. National Gallery of Victoria. Purchased by donors of The Art Foundation of Victoria, with the assistance of the Jack and Genia Liberman family, Founder Benefactor, 1986.
Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency, 2022 Photo: NGV Picasso and his contemporaries Picasso affected the art of his friends and contemporaries, as well as that of those who never met him.
Although Apollinaire described him as achieving a revolution in the arts almost unaided and for Stein Picasso stood apart , in reality Picasso also reflected the cultural and intellectual milieu that surrounded him.
ALSO READ: WHEN WE SEE US': ZEITZ MOCAA LAUNCHS ART & OPULENCE FUNDRAISER GALA
This very ambitious multifaceted exhibition sets out to define Picasso's voice during his long career through a selection of over 80 of his works, many quite major and never previously seen in this country. It also investigates his interactions with his surrounding cultural milieu.
Pablo Picasso Spanish 1881-1973. Portrait of a woman (Portrait de femme) 1938 oil on canvas, 98.0 x 77.5 cm. 116.5 x 96.3 cm (framed) Centre Pompidou, Paris, Mus e national d'art moderne-Centre de cr ation industrielle Gift of the artist, 1947.
Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency, 2022 Photo Centre Pompidou, MNAM- CCI/Georges Meguerditchian/Dist. RMN-GP The Picasso paintings, graphics, sculptures and ceramics are accompanied by about 100 works by more than 50 of his contemporaries to create a context through which his significance can be assessed.
Apart from Apollinaire, the contemporaries considered include Georges Braque, Salvador Dal , Alberto Giacometti, Andr Masson, Juan Gris, Henri Matisse, Dorothea Tanning, Natalia Goncharova, Julio Gonz lez, Wifredo Lam, Suzanne Valadon and Joan Mir .
A large, curious and little-known painting hanging near the entrance of the exhibition, Marie Laurencin's Apollinaire and his friends (2nd version) (1909) from the Centre Pompidou.
Marie Laurencin, French 1883-1956. Apollinaire and his friends (2nd version) (Apollinaire et ses amis [2 me version]) 1909 oil on canvas. 130.0 x 194.0 cm. Centre Pompidou, Paris, Mus e national d'art moderne-Centre de cr ation industrielle. Donated in lieu of tax, 1973.
Fondation Foujita/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2022 Photo Centre Pompidou, MNAM- CCI/Audrey Laurans/Dist. RMN-GP The painting shows Apollinaire with Picasso looking over his shoulder and surrounded by a number of figures including Gertrude Stein, Fernande Olivier, Marguerite Gillot, Maurice Cremnitz as well as Laurencin herself in the foreground in a pale blue dress. Stein, on the left, appears in the role of one of the three inspirational graces or Muses.
Apollinaire admired this painting and had it positioned over the head of his bed for much of his life.
Picasso was to paint portraits of many in this grouping, including that of Apollinaire who was amongst the first to recognise the significance of cubism and collected Picasso's work. Picasso was to refer to Apollinaire in jest as the pope of cubism .
Traversing artistic eras In the exhibition, there are a number of iconic Picasso paintings, including his Portrait of a man (1902-03), a classic work from his so-called blue period .
Pablo Picasso, Spanish 1881-1973. Portrait of a man (Portrait d'homme) winter 1902-03, oil on canvas, 93.0 x 78.0 cm/ Mus e national Picasso-Paris Donated in lieu of tax, 1979.
Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency, 2022 Photo RMN-Grand Palais (Mus e national Picasso-Paris) / Mathieu Rabeau It is a brooding and introspective image where the tone defined an epoch.
Dated a few year later is the memorable Mother and child oil painting from the summer of 1907 that already speaks of primitivism and the radical formal transformation evident in the Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) that was to become a defining moment in the course of western art.
Pablo Picasso, Spanish 1881-1973. Mother and child (M re et enfant) summer 1907, oil on canvas, 81.0 x 60.0 cm. Mus e national Picasso-Paris Donated in lieu o
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
16/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/09/2026
Screen Australia funds games projects in every state and territory as Screen Cur...
15/09/2026
At IBC2026, Pixitmedia by DataCore will showcase its latest capabilities designe...
15/09/2026
Quantum Corp. today announced the release of Quantum Autonomous Data Management ...
15/09/2026
Former Wyndham Hotels & Resorts technology executive will focus on fan engagemen...
15/09/2026
Creator Sports Network (CSN) and FAN.live have announced a partnership giving CSN's network of more than 2,000 vetted creators access to live 3D NFL broadca...
15/09/2026
SVG and SVG Europewere all over the IBC 2026 show floor out in Amsterdam, bringi...
15/09/2026
Rise WIB has announced the shortlist for the Rise Awards 2026, returning to Troxy in London on Tuesday, November 17. The awards recognize outstanding women, adv...
15/09/2026
Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) has announced its media distribution lineup for the 2026-27 season, beginning September 11. Every match will stream live on the...
15/09/2026
Willow Sports has announced it will serve as the exclusive U.S. and Canadian hom...
15/09/2026
Gravity Media has announced it will provide outside broadcast production and technical services for the MXGP of Australia, the finale of the 2026 FIM World Moto...
15/09/2026
Co-founders Scott Coker and Peter Y. Levin have unveiled Ki MMA, a new global mixed martial arts promotion launching in the first quarter of 2027. The announcem...
15/09/2026
Sony Electronics has announced two new G Master super-telephoto prime lenses for...
15/09/2026
GlobeCast provides facility for AI-power automated production core...
15/09/2026
Gravity Media, a leading global provider of production and content, and media services and facilities, is empowering Tourism and Events Northern Territory (NT) ...
15/09/2026
New Thunderbolt audio interfaces aimed at pro studios
Audient's latest announcement sees the company introduce three new high-end audio interfaces desig...
15/09/2026
Completes core wireless system line-up
The latest addition to Sennheiser's Spectera range is now shipping, completing the core elements of the company...
15/09/2026
High-frequency dynamics plug-in upgraded
Schwabe Digital have just released a major free update for their acclaimed high-frequency dynamics processing plug-...
15/09/2026
DAW update launched alongside all-in-one subscription bundle
The latest version of Universal Audio's DAW software has just arrived, and has been release...
15/09/2026
Three popular hardware units go virtual
Rupert Neve Designs are entering the software market in style, with not one, but three of their sought-after hardwar...
15/09/2026
When longstanding OB specialist Cloudbass made the decision to expand its fleet to accommodate remote production facilities for a leading UK sports broadcaster&...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Six Berklee Alumni Win at 2026 Emmy Awards The recipients were recognized for their contributions to Widow's Bay, Beef, South Park, and Bad Bunny's Su...
15/09/2026
OWC Announces Acquisition of OpenDrives, Expanding Software-Defined Video and Ri...
15/09/2026
Podcast The Vertical Buzz Shot with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
Brie Clayton September 14, 2026
0 Comments
Production team builds premium p...
15/09/2026
Grass Valley Launches AVORA at IBC2026
Brie Clayton September 14, 2026
0 Comments
New standalone solution gives production teams everything they need ...
15/09/2026
Brandon Woody Joins Berklee Student Ensemble for Signature Series Concert The acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and bandleader will lead a Berklee student ensemb...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Applications open for Future Leaders Delegation to BitSummit 2027 15 September 2026
Applications are open for Screen Australia's annual Future Leaders Dele...
15/09/2026
Ian Buck, vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing at NVIDIA,...
15/09/2026
On a sweltering August evening in Silicon Valley, as the sun dropped and air conditioning loads spiked, Silicon Valley Power sent a signal to an AI factory to a...
15/09/2026
Know everything. Do anything.
That was the message NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang brought to Salesforce Dreamforce Tuesday, joining CEO Marc Benioff onsta...
15/09/2026
Air pollution is a serious public health risk, contributing to an estimated 30,0...
15/09/2026
Red Seat Ventures' Supercast Launches Live Streaming, Bringing Real-Time Vid...
15/09/2026
Arqiva recognised with Armed Forces Covenant Silver AwardPresented to organisations that demonstrate outstanding support for the Armed Forces community
--
Sh...
14/09/2026
Lil Baby's Dead Fresh kicks off ESPN's Week 1 Monday Night Football, ...
14/09/2026
With Super Bowl LXI waiting in Los Angeles, ESPN will use the regular season to ...
14/09/2026
By Bailey Pennick
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. ...