Picasso: Man and Beast

The Vollard Suite of Prints

Through his work, Pablo Picasso was instrumental in shaping the art of the 20th century. Although perhaps best known for his Cubist paintings, Picasso was also a skilled printmaker, exploring myriad ideas and influences in virtually every known technique from intaglio to lithography. The 100 etchings and drypoints in The Vollard Suite are collectively considered one of his printmaking masterworks, and constitute one of the treasures of the national collection. Acquired in 1957, the entire Suite is being presented in Ottawa for the first time in nearly 60 years. Exploring the tension between man and beast that often characterised Picasso and his work, The Vollard Suitere presents both the civilising nature of art, and a provocative yet quintessential representation of Picasso’s ‘beast within.’

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