PISA: The exhibition of Picasso at Palazzo Blu (Blue Palace) in Pisa, Italy, is almost a sign of destiny: “blue” is the colour of a fertile time in the activity of the great artist, at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.

In this elegant and historic palace on the quiet banks of river Arno which runs across Pisa (a chaotic town at time because of  too many tourists), I visited an interesting exhibition dedicated mainly to Picasso’s graphic production, but not only graphic.

The title is quite obvious: “I wanted to be a painter, and I became Picasso”, that the great artist told his mother, as recalled by Françoise Gilot, his companion and inspiring Muse. Few words from a genius, showing his endless search to be “new” and “unique” in the artistic development of the Twentieth Century, and how he was aware to have reached his extraordinary greatness.

The exhibition is organized by Claudia Beltramo Ceppi, with the collaboration of many specialists of the branch, and has the patronage of  “Cassa di Risparmio di Pisa” Foundation, supported by Spain Embassy in Italy and by Pisa Municipality. After  the exhibitions of Chagall and Mirò in last years, now is the turn of the big Genius, Picasso, born in Màlaga to have his exhibition in prestigious Palazzo Blu, where on display are about 270 works among paintings, drawings, pottery, etchings and lithographs

. All is well arranged so that the visitor can follow chronologically Picasso’s artistic way, in different sections.

The typical and well known Picasso’s artistic subjects, such as bulls, female bodies, tragedy of war, at times recurring in a persistent way, are amply represented at the exhibition. Picasso’s visionary imagination never fails to impress us, just like his searching for a “sign”, always different in the years, a “sign” that goes beyond reality becoming pure and expressive art.

Picasso was a versatile artist and a great personality of the Twentieth Century, he went through different artistic phases all of which are very well shown in this exhibition, and in each one of these periods, his search of expressing inspiration into art was always new.

Those who have familiarity with music will understand if we compare Picasso’s complex personality, his very different stilistic and aestetic results and his extraordinary importance in last century, with Stravinskij’s: two absolute geniuses who came before us, and without them we wouldn’t be what we are now
.

Fabio Bardelli

(translation Bruno Tredicine)

Pisa, Palazzo Blu

Lungarno Gambacorti, 9

14th October 2011 – 29th January 2012