A new exhibition titled ‘Picasso: Printmaker’ at the British Museum will showcase around 100 prints, exploring the life and techniques of the iconic artist from his early works to the renowned 347 Suite.
[Picture: Picasso’s Faun Revealing a Sleeping Woman (Jupiter and Antiope, after Rembrandt) from 1936. Photograph: @Succession Picasso/DACS, London 2024]
The British Museum has announced a remarkable new exhibition, which aims to celebrate the extraordinary graphic art of Pablo Picasso, an artist widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential figures in 20th-century art. This exhibition, titled Picasso: Printmaker, will feature around 100 prints that delve into the life and artistic endeavours of Picasso, often celebrated for his transformational vision and creativity. With expert reporting but with personality, let’s dive into this artistic spectacle!
The exhibition will present a comprehensive journey through Picasso’s printmaking career, starting from his first professional print, The Frugal Meal, created in 1904, to his later works in the 1960s. The Frugal Meal, a powerful depiction of two emaciated figures, is said to reflect the intense expression of poverty and alcoholism that Picasso witnessed around him in Montmartre during his Blue Period.
Catherine Daunt, the curator of modern and contemporary prints at the British Museum, emphasised the artist’s relentless creativity and his unique perception of printmaking. “He saw printmaking not just as a way of reproducing an image but as something on paper that couldn’t be done on canvas,” Daunt explained.
One of the exhibition’s highlights will be the largest display ever of prints from Picasso’s 347 Suite, acquired by the British Museum in 2014. This collection, aptly named after its 347 prints, was created in a prolific burst of activity over seven months in 1968, when Picasso was nearly 87 years old. This suite serves as a visual diary, illustrating the artist’s contemplation of his legacy and his reflections on art history, often touching on themes that had significantly occupied his mind throughout his career.
One of the compelling aspects of the exhibition is its aim to present an in-depth exploration of Picasso’s diverse techniques and styles in printmaking. Displaying 28 prints from the 347 Suite, the exhibition provides a curated look into Picasso’s thoughts and creations. Although not displaying the complete 347-piece collection, the selection aims to offer visitors a more varied and intriguing insight into Picasso’s range of printmaking efforts.
In addition to the 347 Suite, the exhibition also includes works from the Vollard Suite, a set of 100 etchings crafted between 1930 and 1937. These etchings mirror Picasso’s fascination with Greek and Roman art and mythology, underscoring his experimentation and thematic explorations.
Nicholas Cullinan, the director of the British Museum, highlighted the significance of this exhibition in broadening the public’s understanding of Picasso’s work beyond his well-known paintings. Cullinan noted, “Many people will be familiar with Picasso’s paintings, but this exhibition aims to build an appreciation of him as a master of printmaking and highlight how his life-long experimentation with the medium inspired his creativity.”
Picasso: Printmaker will open its doors to the public on 7 November and run until 30 March 2025.
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