Museo Picasso Málaga
The Museo Picasso Málaga is an art gallery assigned to keep Picasso’s works. It was founded in 2003 and it has its headquarters in the Buenavista Palace, Málaga.
The Buenavista Palace was built in 1530 by the city alderman Diego de Cazalla. It is a Renaissance palace with two floors around an arcaded patio.
It was remodeled at the middle of the 20th century in order to hold the Fine Arts Museum of Málaga. Finally, and to the present day, it became the headquarters of the Museo Picasso.
Two houses annexed to the museum were purchased for this new museum. They were then demolished in order to build a temporary exhibition hall, as well as an assembly hall.
A new expansion was needed due to the archaeological findings of the Phoenician Málaga. A library, educational rooms, an auditorium and some offices were added to the main building.
View of the museum. | David Heald
The origin of the Picasso Museum lies in Pablo Picasso’s desire to exhibit his work in his hometown. However, the conversations with Juan Temboury, the provincial delegate of the Fine Arts of Málaga, did not succeed.
The joint initiative of Christine and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, the artist’s daughter-in-law and grandson, revived the project again.
The collection includes 223 Picasso’s works. They are all reunited in a museum project thanks to the collaboration of the Regional Government of Andalusia.
In March 2017, the museological discourse of the Picasso Museum was modified. Furthermore, a new selection of works was made. It allows the visitor to understand Picasso’s works since the beginning to his maturity.
This modification received the name of Pablo Picasso. Nueva Colección (Pablo Picasso. New Collection). The workshop had the collaboration of Endesa Foundation.
Inside the Museo Picasso Málaga
There are several sections within the line Pablo Picasso. New Collection. Each of them shows the evolution of his work in chronological order.
The first years of work are collected in the section Aprendiendo a pintar (learning to paint). It includes the period when Picasso learns with his father, as well as his time in La Coruña, Barcelona and Paris.
From these early stages it is famous the Retrato de Lola (1894) (Portrait of Lola). A female figure appears portrayed from the side in brown and yellow tones. The white of the hair fabric also contrasts with the rest of the chromatic range.
The portrait as a mirror corresponds to the influences of the non-European cultures in the Picasso’s work. In this section, paintings such as Cabeza de mujer (1907) (Head of a Woman) are particularly relevant.
He shows his originality in other portraits such as Busto de mujer (1939), where a woman appears with the arms folded behind her head. He reinvents the portrait from its subjectivity.
As in Las Señoritas de Aviñón (Les Demoiselles d’Avignon), the archaic art influence is notable in this portrait.
Between 1917 and 1924 Picasso travelled to Italy. There he was surrounded by classical art. In addition, he met Olga Khokhlova, a ballet dancer with whom he got married.
It was the time when he painted Las tres Gracias (1923) (The Three Graces). In this piece of work the great influence of the classic iconography can be seen.
Frutero (1919) (Fruit Bowl) dates back to the cubism period. He represents a single object from different angles. This painting on a neutral background is inspired by the death nature of Cézanne.
The unconscious and sculpture is dedicated to the most ‘surrealist’ period. Moreover, at this time and around 1930, Picasso devotes specially to sculpture. One of the exhibited works from this period is Bañista tendida (1931) (Reclining Bather).
The last piece of work we would like to mention is Mujer con los brazos levantados (1936) (Bust of a Woman with Arms Crossed Behind her Head). She is Dora Maar, whom he met in 1936. She became his partner later.
The Spanish Civil War affected Picasso’s mood in 1936. In this painting he celebrates his new love, but also shows the intensity of his work during this war.
Location: Palacio de Buenavista c/ San Agustín, 8. 29015 Málaga.
Phone: +34 952 12 76 00
Website: www.museopicassomalaga.org
As the museum schedules change over the course of the season, find out them updated here. There is also information about admission fees and group tours.
In order to enjoy the city centre of Málaga, here you have our travel guide, as well as some recommendations on restaurants around this area.
