Picasso's Primitivism and Cubism Explored at MUDEC Milan

The MUDEC (Museo delle Culture) in Milan presents a new exhibition examining Pablo Picasso's (1881–1973) engagement with ancient and African art, which he called 'primitive art,' and its role in the birth of Cubism. Curated by Malén Gual and Ricardo Ostalé, the show features sixty works, including tribal artifacts, Picasso's sculptures, paintings, and a sketchbook for 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' (1907). The exhibition traces Picasso's fascination with Iberian, African, and Oceanic art, sparked by visits to the Louvre and the Trocadéro in Paris, and his admiration for Paul Cézanne. It highlights how these influences culminated in the proto-Cubist style, with the sketchbook revealing early plans including two male figures (a sailor and a student) later omitted. The show underscores Picasso's role as a collector of non-Western art, displaying his pieces alongside African and Oceanic statuettes to emphasize their formal similarities. The exhibition is part of the 2023 commemorations for the 50th anniversary of Picasso's death.