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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Picasso: Prints in the 20th Century @ Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Wednesday 28 August @ 09:35:25 |
 by Paul D. Dickinson
The hypnotic quality of Picasso lies in his ability to mingle raw sensuality and cutting edge sophistication within the same gesture. What appears to be careless or childlike is the actual artistic manipulations of a provocateur. Taking in the entire exhibition, one cannot escape the sheer action that occurs in these prints. Horses, women and translucent ghosts stagger through bizarre landscapes in a type of time-lapsed penance that speaks volumes into the depths of history. A simple examination of just one Picasso delivers more of a thrill than the average Hollywood blockbuster flick. It is amazing how a one-dimensional object, hanging on a wall, can somehow explode in all dimensions. Etching, dry points, lithographs and color linoleum cuts show the broad mastery of his handiwork, and to be able to get up close to one of these famous works is truly exciting.
The secret of Picasso’s lure into the expanding world of both the subconscious and the socio-political is his unnerving vitality and his strident struggle with the forces of reality. These prints bring together the seven (known) women of Picasso’s life. Reflected in these homages and explorations are the artist’s own conflicted passions and subverted fears. The energy is so strong because the stakes always remain high. This is to say that Picasso had little use for playing it safe. One can see the lurking Minotaur that appears in Guernica, the massive painting that made him a hero to many and branded him as a political subversive in his own land. In fact, Picasso was never allowed to visit the United States, as he was once a member of Spain’s Communist Party.
With close to 70 prints and six artist’s books on view, this exhibition spans the artist’s printmaking output between 1904 and 1971. Picasso created approximately 2,500 prints and thousands more were produced for livres d’artiste or artist’s books, a format in which the artist makes images to accompany the text of an established poet or writer. So these prints are quite a specific selection. This is not a mass marketed, packaged show that has been passed around the country and just happens to be here. This is a national debut , a presentation of work that has been put together by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts specifically to show the broad range of Picasso’s talent. About 60 percent of the collection is owned by The MIA with the rest of the show coming from National Gallery of Canada, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and important private collections. This is an outstanding opportunity to see this artistic legend, right here in town.
The Picasso exhibit continues through Oct. 29. General Admission Tickets $6. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. 612-870-3200.
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