Picasso and prehistory, the fascinating exhibition at the Musée de l'Homme unveiled

The Musée de l'Homme commemorates the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso 's death with an exhibition with a surprising and captivating theme. Discover one of the Spanish painter's passions, with the exhibition Picasso and Prehistory, to be visited from February 8 to June 12, 2023.

Picasso created many works, some of which are known throughout the world. Guernica, Les demoiselles d'Avignon, The Dream, The Kiss... The artist is best known for founding the Cubism movement. His works are studied, analyzed, exhibited ... One might think that he has nothing to hide from us.

And yet, Picasso had a great passion, which influenced many of his paintings and sculptures. The Spaniard was fascinated by prehistory and its art.

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In 1922, the famous Venus of Lespugue was discovered in a cave in southwestern France. The art world and the public then became fascinated by cave art. This fashion did not leave Pablo Picasso indifferent: the artist is also captivated by these first forms ofexpression and creativity found little by little by archaeologists.

The world of prehistory gradually permeates the creations of Picasso, especially during the inter-war period. The forty or so works exhibited at the Musée de l'Homme bear witness to this. Sculptures, engravings, paintings and drawings reveal how Picasso became fascinated with and studied these ancient artifacts. Picasso shares with these early artists an interest in nature, which serves as both a model for study and a muse.

The exhibition is divided into 5 areas to discover:

• Modelled Bodies: which begins with the two casts of the Venus de Lespugues which he very quickly came into possession of. He then composed from 1927, drawings, paintings and sculptures of female bodies using smooth and swollen volumes.
  

• Bestiaries and large decorations: this space brings together Picasso's animals and creatures that recall the animal groups painted on the walls of prehistoric sites in Spain and France.
  

• Prints and abstractions: this space is an echo of the mysterious abstract signs incised in the stone. We discover drawings and his imprint which gives the artist the permanent and creative character of the first men.
  

• Found objects: this space shows how through the collection of objects such as stones, the artist diverts them into art objects, revealing skulls and engraved faces.
  

• Primitive Goddesses: this space confronts a set of prehistoric Venus casts with Picasso's sculptures. We discover for example the Venus of gas, created in 1945 by the artist, from a gas burner, like a goddess of modern times.
  

An amazing exhibition, which allows us to discover the last secrets of Pablo Picasso, on the occasion of the commemorations of the 50 years of his death.

Don't miss, at the same time, the exhibitions Art and prehistory, and Picasso Celebration, to prolong your experience!

Arts et Préhistoire, the rock paintings exhibition at the Musée de l'Homme - our photos
Lovers of cave paintings should head to the Musée de l'Homme to discover the museum's latest exhibition, Art and Prehistory, from November 16, 2022 to May 22, 2023. [Read more]

Picasso Celebration, the colorful anniversary exhibition at the Picasso Museum Paris - our photos
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso's death, the Picasso Museum and the artist Paul Smith invite us to rediscover the Spanish painter's greatest masterpieces in an unusual exhibition to be discovered from March 7th to August 27th 2023. [Read more]