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Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? OR Picasso's last words

By: Stephen Nelson

Saturday, May. 12, 2012 | Comments: 0

TORONTO — "I paint the way some people write an autobiography," Pablo Picasso once said. "The paintings, finished or not, are the pages from my diary."

If that's true, then the Picasso exhibition now on at the Art Gallery of Ontario (Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris) is the artist's life story writ large. All of the chapters are here, everything from the A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man to Picasso's Last Words.

The exhibition at the AGO has been described Picasso's Picasso, and "the greatest display of Picasso's in the world." It features 147 works from his own private collection, the works that meant so much to him that he kept them for himself — specifically so that he could write his own legacy.

Picasso once said of himself, "The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?"

And there are some people reading this who are thinking "I don't like Picasso" and complaining that his works are incomprehensible.

But when you say something like that, you have to ask, "Which Picasso do you mean?"

Sure, you may be alienated by the distorted faces of Picasso the Cubist or turned off by the grotesque figures of Picasso's sculptures. But then, you are just as likely to be impressed by Picasso the Neo-expressionist or inspired by Picasso the Surrealist.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Picasso's representations of women, especially the muses and mistresses in his life.

His Portrait of Dora Maar, the painting you see on all the publicity for the exhibition, is classic Cubism, divine destruction and distortion. To some, it looks like Picasso took himself seriously when he said that "painting is a blind man's profession" and that "to draw, you must close your eyes and sing."

Jacqueline With Crossed Hands is a scary, sphinx-like portrait of his most-painted muse and second wife (Jacqueline Roque), done in the harsh Primitivism style.

On the other hand, his Portrait of Olga in an Armchair, featuring his first wife (OlgaKhokhlova), seems to draw you into to a romantic ballerina's dream. Here,"everything you can imagine is real" and "everything you can imagine is a miracle."

And then there is perhaps the most beautiful painting in the whole exhibition, Two Women Running On The Beach

So you don't need Dan Brown to decode Picasso and figure out that his relationships with women were all-important. All you have to do is look at his body of work. Clearly, for Picasso, "There are only two types of women — goddesses and doormats." And sometimes, they could be both.

Or, as one art historian wrote, "[Picasso] was always apt to associate sex with art: the procreative act with the creative act."

But ultimately, this collection — like everything he did — is about Picasso: the man who often thought he was God's gift to women and art, and (like Lucifer) even compared himself to the Creator of the Universe:

"God is really only another artist... He has no real style. He just keeps on trying other things," Picasso once said. "The same with this sculptor. First he works from nature; then he tries abstraction. Finally he winds up lying around caressing his models."

» Stephen A. Nelson is a former Brandon Sun editor and freelance writer now based in Jasper. He welcomes enquiries and assignments: stephena.nelson@gmail.com

IF YOU GO

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris — on now till Aug. 26, at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

The Other Picasso — Picasso and Man: The 1964 Exhibition — running now till Sept. 30, 2012

Of course, 2012 isn't the first time that Pablo Picasso has starred in Toronto. Back in 1964 — around about the time The Beatles were playing at Maple Leaf Gardens — the Art Gallery of Toronto (as the AGO was then called) thrilled Toronto audiences with the first-ever Canadian retrospective of Picasso’s artworks. The month-long visual blockbuster showcased 270 artworks on loan from all over the world and put Toronto on the art world's map.

You can revisit these glory days through photographs, archival materials and artworks, includingCrouching Womanfrom his Blue Period

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris — on at the Art-Gallery of Ontario (AGO) now till Aug. 26, 2012

Art Gallery of Ontario

317 Dundas Street West

Toronto Ontario

phone: 416 979 6648

toll free 1 877 225 4246

www.ago.net/home

@:IF YOU GO

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris

on Now till August 26, at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

GETTING THERE

Air Canada is the official airline of the Picasso exhibition at the AGO. The airline offers several flights a day from points East and West

Toll Free: 1 866 529-2079

www.aircanadavacations.com/

Via Rail runs trains to Edmonton several times

a week from points East and West. Considerable

discounts are available when you book online.

Toll-free: 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245)

Website: viarail.ca

WHERE TO STAY

While in Toronto, Stephen stayed at the Sheraton Centre Hotel. Asa official sponsor of the Picasso exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Sheraton offers great packages:

Includes two tickets to thePicasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris exhibition ($50 value)

Shuttle service to and from the Art Gallery of Ontario

One night rates from $189 for stays May 1June 26, 2012

One night rates from $159 for stays June 27August 19, 2012

Special Summer Weekends rate Book a two night weekend stayfrom June 27August 19, 2012 for only $125 per night.

Book online or call and mention rate plan AGOPICWD for SundayThursday stays and AGOPICWE for Friday & Saturday stays. Book their Special Summer Weekends by mentioning rate plan AGOPIC2N.

Sheraton Centre Hotel

123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Toll Free Special Offers Line: 866-716-8101

Website: sheratontoronto.com

Also recommended:

Fairmont Royal York Hotel: The Grande Dame of Toronto is the city's most-famed, most historic and most palatial hotel. All-inclusive Packages start from $195CAD per night

100 Front Street WestToronto, Ontario

Phone: 416-368-2511

Toll Free: 1-866-540-4489

WHERE TO EAT

Cherry Street Restaurant

Located in Toronto's historical Port Lands district, the Cherry Street Restaurant offers cool casual dining and great jazz music. You can bank on it.

275 Cherry Street, Toronto

Phone: 416 461 511

Website: cherryst.ca

Scaramouche Restaurant

A Toronto favourite for more than 30 years, Scaramouche offers great service and a Bohemian Rhapsody of contemporary cuisine in a convivial setting with a great view of the Toronto skyline.

One Benvenuto Place, Toronto

Phone: 416.961.8011

Website: scaramoucherestaurant.com

Nota Bene

Close to the city's entertainment and business districts Nota Bene offers fine food and friendly service. N. B. It was named Canada's best new restaurant byToronto Life&Air Canada’s En Route magazine.

180 Queen Street West, Toronto,

Phone: 416 977 6400

Website: notabenerestaurant.com

360The Restaurant at the CN Tower

Sitting more than 1,100 metres above the city, 360 is literally the top revolving restaurant in Toronto and offers a great view of the city and Lake Ontario while you enjoy your meal. And the ride to the top is complimentary with the purchase of a main course.

301 Front Street West, Toronto

Phone: 416-868-6937

Toll free 1-888-684-3268 or1-88-TO-THE-CNT

Website: cntower.ca/en-CA/360-Restaurant/Overview.html

PHOTO CREDITS:

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973)

Portrait de Dora Maar (Portrait of Dora Maar), 1937

Oil on canvas

92 x 65 cm

Pablo Picasso gift-in-lieu, 1979, MP158

Musée National Picasso, Paris

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973)

Jacqueline aux mains croisées (Jacqueline with Crossed Hands), 1954

Oil on canvas

116 x 88.5 cm

Pablo Picasso gift-in-lieu, 1979, MP1990-26

Musée National Picasso, Paris

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973)

Portrait d’ Olga dans un fauteuil (Portrait of Olga in an Armchair), 1918

Oil on canvas

130 x 88.8 cm

Pablo Picasso gift-in-lieu, 1979, MP55

Musée National Picasso, Paris

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 12, 2012

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TORONTO — "I paint the way some people write an autobiography," Pablo Picasso once said. "The paintings, finished or not, are the pages from my diary."

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TORONTO — "I paint the way some people write an autobiography," Pablo Picasso once said. "The paintings, finished or not, are the pages from my diary."

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