The ‘Réunion des Musées Nationaux’ and the ‘Musée Granet’ in Aix-en-Provence organized a large exhibition entitled ” Cézanne ~ Picasso” at the ‘Musée Granet’ in Aix-en-Provence from 25th of May to 27th of September 2009.
This exhibition was part of the extension of the success of the “Cézanne in Provence”’ exhibition in 2006, which attracted 450 000 visitors, and the continuance of the “Picasso and the Masters” exhibition, jointly produced by the ‘Réunion des Musées Nationaux’ for the winter 2008-2009 period, which will be held at various sites in Paris: the ‘Galeries Nationales du ’Grand Palais’, the ‘Musée du Louvre’ and the ‘Musée d'Orsay’.
This project was in line with the Musée Granet’s desire to prioritise highlighting Cézanne’s role as the father of modern art and his artistic relationships with the great masters of the 20th century in its temporary exhibitions.
The relationship between Picasso and Cézanne is always touched upon, but rarely dealt with in detail. This exhibition was an opportunity to delve deeper into an exceptional relationship that reveals one of the most secret parts of Picasso’s work. The exhibition has four parts:
- Picasso watches Cézanne: from his arrival in Paris in 1900 to the end of the story of cubism
- Picasso collects Cézanne: Picasso was an expert and well-informed collector, and came to own three of Cézanne’s masterpieces in his personal collection
- Shared themes and shapes: fruit bowls, skulls, bathers, models on an armchair, Harlequin
- Picasso moves closer to Cézanne: purchase of the Château, and the ‘Vauvenargues’ period, with his masterpieces.
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| The Château of Pablo Picasso in Vauvenargues opened to the public -
Summer 2009 |
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In addition, the Château de Vauvenargues where Pablo Picasso and his wife Jacqueline lived between 1959 and 1965 opened its doors to the public in 2009, on the initiative of Catherine Hutin, Jacqueline’s daughter and the current owner. This château, built in the 17th century, was bought by Picasso in September 1958. It is where Pablo and Jacqueline Picasso were laid to rest, at the foot of the main steps on the terrace, when they died in 1973 and 1986. On top of their tomb is a bronze statue, la femme au vase, the original of which, made in 1933, was displayed at the entry of the Spanish pavilion at the international exhibition in Paris in 1937, where one of the Spanish painter’s most famous paintings, ‘Guernica’, was unveiled.
2009 also marked the fiftieth anniversary of Picasso moving into the Château de Vauvenargues, which is not far from Aix. The Château de Vauvenargues was the last home chosen by the painter before he finally moved to Mougins. The artist chose the site in direct reference to Cézanne, gladly saying “I live where Cézanne lives". Although the Vauvenargues period was short (1959-1961), it must have been more long-term in Picasso’s mind, as he installed his collections and studio there.
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