Picasso's Final Paintings Shine at Nantes Museum

The Musée des beaux-arts in Nantes presents 'Picasso, la peinture seule 1961-1972', featuring 56 paintings from the collection of Bernard Ruiz-Picasso and two from the Jacqueline Picasso collection. The exhibition, running from October 5, 2001, to January 14, 2002, focuses on Picasso's late period, often underestimated. Curated with a Greek cross layout in the museum's patio, the display allows for unexpected juxtapositions and emphasizes the painter's constant invention rather than the dramatic or sexual themes of previous exhibitions like 'Le Dernier Picasso' at the Musée national d'art moderne in 1988 or the erotic Picasso show at the Jeu de Paume. The works, mostly oil on canvas, show a variety of techniques including diluted color, matte finishes, and recurrent use of whites. The exhibition highlights Picasso's freedom in his final years, celebrating his last muse Jacqueline, and engaging with historical masters like Velázquez, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh. Critic Anne Bertrand notes that the paintings, with their urgency and energy, stand as sovereign testaments to Picasso's enduring relevance.