“It is your work in life that is the ultimate seduction” said Pablo Picasso. I couldn’t agree more Mr. Picasso. And with that I was surprised to learn how much fun Picasso had with his obsession.
While in Williamstown yesterday, I fancied the “Picasso Looks at Degas” exhibit for hours at The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. My original plans included Leonard Nimoy: Secret Selves at Mass MoCa in North Adams but that was quickly scratched when a friendly NYC couple convinced me to visit the Clark instead.
“Picasso Looks at Degas” is the only showing of the exhibit in the country and it’s running for another month so it’s a destination event for many. For a Thursday, the collection was crowded with both art amateurs (yours truly) and connoisseurs. Picasso’s personality, wit and humor is painted, sculpted and drawn into select pieces that pay homage to Degas.
Brothel Monotypes
Some may interpret the Brothel Monotypes as demeaning to Degas but I found them whimsical and fun; a low-brow lift to the more serious Ballerina tributes.
Picasso draws Degas under the spell of cavorting nymphs at bars and brothels while spying from a corner in the drawings. Degas is the voyeur and isn’t always easy to find among the fleshy prostitutes. The girls are portrayed with distorted shapes and sizes; their hands are too big and erotic zones shaved to a minimum distraction. Degas gazes upon the devious joys of bathers with curiosity and wonder.
It’s fun to see how Picasso portrays this scandalous professional using a medium called monotype – covering a metal or celluloid plate with thick, greasy printer’s ink and then wiping and scraping into detail. The technique relies on imprecision and manipulation and works well with the brothel scenes. None of Picasso’s work is obscene but rather charming compared to today’s blunt aesthetic.
Fantasy, sexual exploration and erotic domination in Picasso’s satirical interpretations are, like I said, amusing and fun. Do yourself a favor and make sure you visit before September when the exhibit moves onto a museum in Spain for the rest of the year.
