Publicly unseen during his life, the sketchbooks include studies for some of Picasso’s most famous works, such as Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.
First unveiled to the public in 1986, Picasso’s sketchbooks were part of Je Suis le Cahier, an innovative exhibition at Pace Gallery in New York featuring 45 sketchbooks. The exhibit later toured various international museums, such as London’s Royal Academy of Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and Kunsthaus Zurich.
On the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s passing on April 8, 1973, Pace Gallery is hosting another exhibition in New York showcasing 14 of the artist’s sketchbooks, produced between 1900 and 1959. Set to open this fall (November 10 – December 23), the exhibition will feature related ceramics, paintings, photographs, films, and archival materials alongside the sketchbooks.
Picasso frequently used sketchbooks alongside his more prominent works throughout his career but kept them private. One sketchbook from 1907 and set to be displayed in New York, includes studies for figures that were later incorporated into Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Another feature is a rare self-portrait, created during his 1918 honeymoon with Russian ballet dancer Olga Khokhlova in Biarritz. A third album from 1924, created in Juan-les-Pins on the French Riviera, begins with 18 pages of pen-and-ink guitar variations.
All sketchbooks are on loan from private collections and unavailable for purchase. A representative mentioned that Picasso’s estate does not have exclusive ties to any galleries, but Pace has collaborated with the Picasso family for over 40 years. The New York exhibition is organized with the Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso in Madrid.
The upcoming exhibition honours the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s death and celebrates his enduring artistic legacy. The sketchbooks provide a unique and intimate glimpse into the creative process behind some of his most renowned works. Art enthusiasts and scholars alike will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the mind of the iconic artist.
The exhibition will be accompanied by lectures, workshops, and guided tours, offering visitors a comprehensive understanding of Picasso’s artistic journey and the significance of his sketchbooks. A fully illustrated catalogue will also feature essays from leading art historians and experts on Picasso’s work.
Pace Gallery is committed to showcasing Picasso’s art and working closely with his family and estate. This latest exhibition reaffirms their dedication to preserving and promoting the artist’s work, ensuring that future generations can appreciate and study his remarkable contributions to art.
The 50th-anniversary exhibition of Picasso’s sketchbooks is set to attract a diverse audience of art lovers, historians, and collectors, providing a rare and fascinating insight into the private world of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. As the sketchbooks travel from New York to other international museums, they will continue to inspire and captivate art enthusiasts around the globe.
