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In honour of the 50th anniversary of the death of the revolutionary Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, Spain and France have joined forces to create the ‘Year of Picasso’ initiative which will involve more than 40 exhibitions, conferences and special events in museums in Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, Malaga and other cities throughout Europe and North America.

 

“Our aim is to revindicate the artistic legacy of Picasso and the relevance of his work,” said Spanish Culture Minister Miquel Iceta.

 

“If there is one artist that defines the 20th century, who presents it in all its cruelty, violence, passion, excesses and contradictions, that artist is Pablo Picasso.”

 

Picasso was born on October 25, 1881 in Malaga but spent most of his adult life in France, passing away on April 8, 1973 in Mougins on the Riviera.

 

During his lifetime, the Spaniard is believed to have created tens of thousands of paintings, drawings and sculptures and is considered one of the most emblematic and influential modern artists.

 

“We want to present Picasso as he was,” French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak explained, showcasing “the abundant, inventive and often radical work” which “continues to exert a genuine fascination throughout the world.”

 

This celebration of Picasso’s work has taken a year and a half to prepare and will run begin on September 23 with the exhibit ‘Pablo Picasso and the breaking down of sculpture’ at Madrid’s Mapfre Foundation. It will wrap up in April 2024 at the Petit Palais in Paris.

 

See also: Missing Picasso painting turns up for auction in Spain

 

Image: Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte