A Different Side of Picasso Explored at LACMA’s ‘Picasso and His Printers’

Sandra Miska

When one thinks of Pablo Picasso, perhaps the best-known artist of the 20th century, paintings of blue and other beautiful colors come to mind. Although the medium in which he made his most important contribution was painting, Picasso also created a great deal of impressive prints during his seven decade career. A new exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, “Picasso and His Printers,” explores the artist’s printmaking techniques and relationships with master printers.

“The stimulus and support Picasso received from his master printers were critical to his exploration of graphic art,” LACMA’s web site notes. These partnerships Picasso fueled his lifelong commitment to innovative techniques and unorthodox methods. The master printers with whom he collaborated with, and are highlighted in the exhibit, include Roger Lacouriére, Fernand Mourlot and Hidalgo Arnéra.

Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881, but spent most of his adult life in France. After training under his father, he made his first trip to Paris in 1900. His early exposure to the works of painter and poet, Danite Gabriel Rossetti, and painter/printmakers, Théophile Alexandre Steinlen,  Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Edvard Munch influenced much of his work.

Not long after his arrival in Paris, Picasso commenced what came to be known as his Blue Period (1901-1904). During this time, the artist created paintings in shades of blue and blue-green. This somber period was followed his more cheery Rose Period (1904-1906), during which he made use of orange and pink colors. While Blue Period paintings featured gaunt figures, Rose Period paintings were full of acrobats and other circus people.

After Picasso’s Rose Period came his African-Influenced Period (1907-1909). Next came is groundbreaking Cubism Period (1909-1912), during which he and collaborator Georges Braque took apart objects and analyzed them in terms of their shapes. He commenced his work with prints in the mid-1930s. The man who had such a tremendous influence on modern art died in 1973 at age 91 in France.

‘Picasso and His Printers‘ exhibit will de on display at LACMA July 23 – Nov. 27.