Pablo Picasso the great, the Michelangelo of the 20th century, the raging bull of modern art is exhibiting in Seattle.

The Seattle Art Museum, is host to a comprehensive exhibit of the modern master, artist Pablo Picasso. These are Picasso’s private stash of art pieces that he did not intend to reveal or sell. In today’s art market, the value of this artwork is nearly incalculable. And you need to take yourself, family or friends to see this show, because, unless you travel to Paris any time soon, you won’t get another chance.

Picasso’s enormous collection was “given,” in lieu of inheritance taxes, to the French government, who quickly outfitted a large, handsome but derelict hotel in Paris with the enormous collection. Right now, the museum is closed for two years of renovation. Vive l’opportunite!

With all the intrigue of a modern espionage novel, the curators of the Seattle Art Museum where able to somehow finagle Paris into loaning its collection to Seattle through Jan. 17.

Picasso burst on the Paris scene like a burst of talent, the art world had not seen before. To say that Picasso was a precocious talent at age 19 is an understatement. He could already paint and draw like a master.

And paint he did. The collection is an undeniable display of all the glamor, brilliance and command of the many media that Picasso thrust upon an evolving 20th century art world, a world already reeling from the impact of Impressionism and Post Impressionism and the first extraordinary artworks by modern painters from Claude Monet to Vincent Van Gogh.

Picasso fathered the next giant steps that led to the modern-day transformation from painting as representation, to, well … be my guest in defining this potpourri of expression.

Most of his paintings stun a vibrant imagination. Two Women Running on the Beach, The Village Dance, Cat Catching a Bird, sketches from Guernica, playful and provocative sculpture – all this work is displayed with deep passion, eroticism, and of course, all the creativity of an artist who might be defined as the raging bull of modern art.

At the beginning of the exhibit, one is confronted by a life-size photograph, a self-portrait of the artist as a young man, around age 24, standing resolutely with two deep-set black eyes blazing, almost challenging, muscles hard and taut, and with a pose that suggests an ego beyond Picasso’s cool and calculating confidence, of which he is generally accused of exhibiting by the boatload. He seems to suggest in a prescient sort way that, yes, he is going to become an artist of unsurpassed depth and imagination. His black and white drawings suggest a master on terms with Rembrandt or Picasso’s fellow Spaniard, Goya. Certainly, Picasso does not surpass either. But to be held on a par with such genius and talent speaks volumes, and Picasso did speak volumes. This quotation is a favorite: “God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style. He just goes on creating other things.”

His bigger than life nature, like his artwork, must have remained irresistible, just as this show is irresistible. In the sketches and studies of Guernica (the original remains in Madrid), rage and indignity confront us with all the power of a full-force Blitzkrieg.

In a strange way, it doesn’t matter if you like abstract painting or not. Picasso is the giant of expressionism and the creator of many emerging art styles. He was always ahead of the pack, bursting from the starting gate like Secretariat or Sea Biscuit. It can hardly be denied. You may dismiss his style, but must not reject the talent.

In 2005, viewers had the opportunity to experience Van Gogh works from the Kröller-Müller Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. The Kröller-Müller Museum is pairing with the Van Gogh Museum for a second time to showcase the artist’s works in three locations in Japan from 2010-2011.

The exhibition will show in the following three locations in Japan:

01.10.2010/20.12.2010 Tokyo The National Art Center
01.01.2011/13.02.2011 Fukuoka Kyusyu National Museum
22.02.2011/10.04.2011 Nagoya Nagoya City Art Museum

Radiography, infrared reflectography, pigment analysis, and other methods of research will reveal a more in-depth look at Van Gogh’s process. Van Gogh’s works are characterized by strong use of line, muted and vivid palette colors, swirling strokes, and somewhat distorted perspectives inside seemingly fantastical works of art. Though perhaps viewed as fantastical as a post-impressionist, Van Gogh also relied on realism.

Van Gogh’s Influences

Van Gogh will not show alone. Many works of the artist’s contemporaries and predecessors will be shown alongside Van Gogh in the tour. Viewers will have the opportunity to see works that directly influenced Van Gogh, (Rembrandt and Rubens) while getting to know the works of his contemporary painters (Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Signac, Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin). Van Gogh worked at Cormon’s studio for months, where he met students who would also become renowned contemporaries. Neo-Impressionism also made its debut around the time that Van Gogh became a serious practicing artist, having not taken up painting until his late twenties.

The show will provide a rare opportunity to study Van Gogh’s work in-depth and, alone, is worth the trip to Japan

It’s a big season for Picasso in the northeast. MoMA has a show, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is doing a Picasso & Friends show. Later this spring the Metropolitan Museum of Art will exhibit 300 of its Picassos…

The Guggenheim is also taking part in the Picassopalooza by showing two great still-lifes as part of a seventh-floor collection portraying the importance of Picasso on the Modern Art World.

For some reason Picasso is back as the most popular artist of the past century. Picasso’s popularity is on the rise a trend that just does not seem to fade.

The Reina Sofia Museum, as I covered last time, is the home of Spain’s Modern Art masterpieces. The experience at the Reina Sofia is a majestic walk through the great works of the Spanish Modernist — from Salvador Dali to Juan Miro. As you marvel at the illuminating creations you cannot avoid the glaring evidence of the massive effect of the Spanish masters on the modern art movement.

With that said, there is one Spanish artist who has set the tone for 20th century evolution of Modern Art, you guessed it… that artist is Pablo Picasso.

Even though Pablo Picasso is a Spanish native, his works were banned from the country throughout the rain of Generalisimo Franco. The artists’ public rejection of Franco made him unwelcomed by the tyrant in his own native country.

This prelude makes the story of the Guernica oil painting at the Sofia, Madrid an extra special one.

The Guernica is probably Picassos’ most famous creation. Not an easy task as his works of art have been grasping the highest average dollar value for the past 20 years.

Guernica is a depiction of the bombing of Guernica, Spain, by German and Italian warplanes at the height of the Spanish Civil War on April 26, 1937. My mother used to call it the grand rehearsal to the Second World War.

The Spanish Republican government commissioned Pablo Picasso to create a large mural for the Spanish display at the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris. Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians.

As you walk through the Reyna Sofia, just as you are about to enter the Guernica hall, you get the feeling that you are about to encounter greatness… similar to the feeling you get as you enter the Sistine chapel, there are only a handful of artistic creations that inspire the same emotions. The Guernica at the Rheina Sofia is one such display.
When you set yourself in front of the display it takes many minutes to stare at it. You can probably spend an hour just staring at it and probably an entire semester analyzing this masterpiece in an art or history class.

The Sofia holds a room adjacent to the Guernica that holds famous paintings and sculptures relating to the Spanish Civil War including preliminary sketches of various parts of the Guernica.

This huge oil painting which was originally inspired by a newspaper clip, has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. The symbolism is abundant in every stroke and it is an important engagement I recommend to any Madrid visitor.

In conclusion, the Guernica will forever remain Picasso’s greatest work. As the years go by the importance of the message it delivers to the world just gets more and more important and relevant.

As indicated in my last post from my visit to the Prado, Madrid is an absolutely breathtaking city, with flavors, history, style and a dash of daring do atmosphere.

After my disappointing visit to the Museo del Prado, I was hesitant to continue on with my museum tour and instead focus on drinking Mojitos and enjoying the many Flamenco shows and restaurants this beautiful city has to offer… after all they don’t even let me take photos of the art in the museum!?

But the next museum on my list was an absolute must. The National Museum “Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” or as the Madridians like to call it “la Sofia”, is Spain’s most important Museum of 20th century art and considered one of the most important contemporary art museums in the world.

This gem of a museum actually resides in an unassuming 18th century hospital building which was converted into a museum in 1992. When you are making your way on the metro over to the Sofia, don’t be shy and ask where it is because as important a landmark it might be for us art lovers, it is actually well hidden from the untrained touristy eye.

The old and relatively bland building (very uncharacteristic to the city of Madrid) has an outer elevator system which gives the place a unique look that sets it apart from the other buildings surrounding it.

Immediately as I walked in to the museum I felt that I came to the right place. 2000+ works of art adorn the walls of the Sofia, with the great Surrealist styles of Salvador Dali, Juan Miro and Pablo Picasso being the focus of this beautiful spectacle of modern art. And to top it all off taking pictures with a camera is allowed (excluding flash..)

I made my way through the corridors and rooms and at almost every painting I felt emotions of sheer admiration as these are the works of the greatest artists ever. It is hard to explain what happens when you come face to face with a Dali painting, but it definitely throws you off. You can be grasped by terror, disgust and even a mad laugh all at the same time.

The Juan Miro oil paintings that are in almost every corner give the museum a special feel with shapes and curves that turn the walls into 3 dimensional playgrounds.

But with all due respect to the 2000 plus paintings and creations in the Sofia, their is one special painting that makes the whole trip to Madrid worth your while.

Next up my encounter with the Guernica…

For anyone who has had the privilege of traveling to Madrid, Spain, art lovers or not, you will all agree that a visit to the Madridian museums are an absolute must.

I ventured to Madrid last week and aside from the unbarring August heat and my horrible Spanish skills, it was an amazing 5 days…

When in Madrid, I stayed on Gran Via, at the heart of the old city of Madrid. The buildings and cathedrals that surround you on every corner are breathtaking and the food and people complete a scenery filled with style, culture and tradition.

The focal point of Madrid’s artistic history can be found at the Museo del Prado – which is a monument of artistic impressions from the 12th century up to the 17th century. Aside from many paintings of Guya and Velazques, you can find some works by Rafael, Rembrandt, Adams and many more.

Frankly, the Prado in my eyes was a disappointment. Yes, these artists were geniuses of there times and the art is absolutely amazing. However, most of the paintings at the Prado show religious themes or aristocratic portraits of the many European genealogies of the time.

Personally I like to stare at art that someone actually thought about and has hidden meanings in his creations. I am not a big fan of Realism and would prefer more modern works like Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, not to mention Rothko and Picasso.

Another upsetting point about visiting the Prado is their bizarre refusal to allow the visitors to take photos of the paintings… in all the museums in New York, Paris and London that I have visited the flash was always off, but I could at least take photos of the art.

Off course that did not stop me from taking a few pictures from inside the Prado… I wish I could have shown you more, but security noticed I took a few pics and requested me to stop.

To sum, I think that the Prado is great if you are into Realism of the fifteenth and sixteenth century. If you are more of an art connoisseur and would like to enjoy brilliant thought provoking artistic creations, head out to see the Guernica at the Museo Nacional Reina Sofia next door.