States of Mind: Picasso Lithographs 1945–1960

  • Visual arts
  • Los Angeles
  • Fri, Oct 14, 2016 —
    Mon, Feb 13, 2017
States of Mind: Picasso Lithographs 1945–1960

The Norton Simon Museum presents “States of Mind: Picasso Lithographs 1945–1960,” a revelatory exhibition exploring Pablo Picasso’s prolific work in the medium of lithography.

Drawing from the Norton Simon Museum’s holdings of more than 700 Picasso prints —among the deepest collections of its kind anywhere in the world— States of Mind traces the evolution of the artist’s individual compositions from the 1940s and 1950s through multiple states, subtle adjustments and radical revisions. The 86 prints on view, many presented for the first time in 40 years, give viewers a rare chance to encounter this groundbreaking body of work by one of history’s most celebrated artists.

Picasso at the Norton Simon Museum

Over the course of his collecting career, Norton Simon purchased 885 works by Picasso, more than by any other artist except Goya. These comprised some 20 paintings in oil and pastel, nine bronzes, six drawings and 850 prints (some of which were sold at a later date.) His largest single acquisition of Picasso artworks occurred in 1977 with the purchase of 228 lithographs, dated from the 1940s and 1950s and originating from the collection of Fernand Mourlot himself. The group included trial proofs (sometimes printed just once or twice), artist’s proofs (printed in private editions of 18, often years before the larger commercial editions of 50) and 168 final proofs marked Bon à tirer (“O.K. to print”) in Picasso’s brisk, confident hand. Opening up this rare trove, the exhibition presents 86 prints that chart Picasso’s discovery of lithography and his continuing reliance upon the medium to record the movement of his thoughts.

About the Norton Simon Museum

The Norton Simon Museum is known around the world as one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled. Over a 30-year period, industrialist Norton Simon (1907–1993) amassed an astonishing collection of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and a stellar collection of South and Southeast Asian art spanning 2,000 years. Modern and Contemporary Art from Europe and the United States, acquired by the former Pasadena Art Museum, also occupies an important place in the Museum’s collections. The Museum houses more than 12,000 objects, roughly 1,000 of which are on view in the galleries and gardens. Two temporary exhibition spaces feature rotating installations of artworks not on permanent display.

Venue

Venue map

Norton Simon Museum, 411 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105

Admission

Adults: $12.00

More information

Norton Simon Museum

Credits

Presented by Norton Simon Museum. Image: Jacqueline Reading (1957), Pablo Picasso, The Norton Simon Foundation.

Tools

Newsletter

Don't miss events like this one! Subscribe to our bimonthly newsletter to stay informed. Our subscribers also get exclusive access to select online content such as free screenings or concerts.

Sign up for our newsletter