In the London National Gallery hosts exhibition of works by Pablo Picasso

Exhibition entitled «Picasso: a challenge to the past» opened this week in the London National Gallery. This is the first draft of a museum dedicated to creativity famous artist whose work are the most expensive in the world . The exhibition presents more than 60 works by masters of the largest public and private collections in Europe and North America. They reflect both the author's enthusiasm for the European painting tradition, and his opposition to the authority of the past. The exhibition is organized thematically and divided into several parts, each of which can be seen self-portraits, still lifes, pictures of various characters and typecasting, naked women, as well as the famous «variation» on the masterpieces of XVII-XIX centuries.

Picasso throughout his life, had a dialogue with the great masters of European painting, such as El Greco, Velazquez, Goya, Rembrandt, Delacroix, Ingres, Manet and Cezanne. The works of these authors can be seen in the permanent exhibition of the National Gallery and evaluate them in terms of Picasso. On the one hand, he admired the creations of his predecessors, and often borrowed artistic ideas, themes and plots of the past. But on the other hand, he always convert them into something quite different and create your own unique canvas. Sometimes it «quotes» were straight, sometimes allegorical, full of allusions, and sometimes even a parody.

Part of the exhibition at the National Gallery is devoted to a self-portrait of Picasso, where you can find the perfect proof that he was fascinated by this genre, so beloved by many geniuses past. For example, in a picture «Self-portrait in a wig» (1897) from the Picasso Museum in Barcelona sixteen artist has depicted himself in the image of Mr XVIII century, thereby defying the old masters, while paying tribute to Goye and Rembrandt. Also very interesting portrait «artist canvas before» (1938), in which 57-year-old author has depicted himself with a palette and brushes in hand.

In another section of the exhibition presents male characters, and character. Here you can see a portrait of Picasso's friend and secretary, Jaime Sabartesa (Jaime Sabartes) in the guise of a Spanish nobleman of the XVI century, as well as canvas «A child with a dove» (1901) is closest in style of the works of Gauguin and Van Gogh runs at the same time, referring us to images of Catholic tradition.

An integral part of the creative legacy of Picasso's paintings are of naked, which is also represented in the exhibition. The artist used the already-established canons of the traditional genres and adapt them to create their own visual language. At first, Picasso, like Ingres, appealed to the purity and monumentality of ancient masterpieces, but somewhat exaggerated, and transformed them, which is well evident in the «Grand bather» (1921). Then the changes become more bold and radical, as in the film «was uncovered», 1969. And in the «Women for a toilet» (1956) felt the influence of Edgar Degas bather.

As for the still-life, the exhibition at the National Gallery can be seen «Skull with Jug» (1953), which in many ways echoes the works of Chardin, Goya, Delacroix, as well as more modern authors - Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne. And in kubisticheskom «Still life with glass and lemon» (1910) Picasso breaks form in many intersecting planes.

ends with a display of a series of bold «variations» on the masterpieces of XVII-XIX centuries, which arose from the idea of Picasso at the end of life. Famous «Menin» Velasquez young artist first saw at the age of 14 years and more than three-quarters of a century later, he created a series of deeply personal interpretations of this picture. Three of them, including paintings «Infanta Margarita» (1957) and «Menin» (1957), can be seen at an exhibition in London. Also of note is a series of four variations on the theme «A Picnic» brush Édouard Manet, created in 1960-1961 years.

exhibition at the National Gallery in London last until June 7.

material produced Catherine Onuchin

Source: nationalgallery.org . uk , artdaily.com , artinvestment.ru