on art and culture

“Picasso and Paper” The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH - 2.78 / 10

 

I’m not quite sure what’s new could be written about Picasso at this point. About his greatness many books were published, and how he was an asshole also a few. When the Cleveland Museum of Art advertised the exhibition, I was more excited by the word “paper” than by the word “Picasso.” Surprisingly, at the show, I confronted many paintings which were not on the agenda. The works on “paper” are in chronological order: Blue Period, Rose Period, Cubism, whatever. How the show is presented introduces the monotony of his practice. The same subject matter. The consistent line quality from one work to another. The identical planes. To end on a positive note, what you can get from the exhibition is that Picasso was an artist of great conviction. While he was an asshole, he made a lot of work. All the whining contemporaries who make one painting in four years should take some notes. 

 

02/05/2025

Alex Vlasov