The Seattle Art Museum has no Picassos to speak of – a couple of prints, a single drawing and a scarf. Yes, a scarf. No paintings. No sculptures. Paul Allen owns at least one small painting. Aside from its appearance in Double Take at EMP, Allen is keeping his Picasso (or Picassos) to himself, along with the rest of his collection.
That’s why Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso Paris is a big deal. It opens in October at SAM with 75 paintings and sculptures chosen to document all phases of his career, plus a survey of prints and photographs.
Portrait of Dora Maar, 1937
Oil on canvas, 92 x 65 cm
Pablo Picasso, Spanish, worked in France, 1881-1973
Musée National Picasso, Paris
© 2010 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Photo Credit: Jean-Gilles Berizzi / Réunion des Musées Nationaux / Art Resource, New York.
For more information, go here.
Yes, this is big news. First came the wonderful Calder exhibit, and now SAM follows that with Picasso, and to top it all off with the release from the Safeco collection of over 800 works by Northwest artists. These happenings all help to temper the mental anguish over the damaging effects of our present economy.
It is only speculation on my part, but I do believe the public’s interest in purchasing art closely parallels the economic viability of the real estate marketplace and just as it is a great time to buy a house so too is it an opportune time to purchase some art. Many artists are hurting financially and there are some deals to be had.