Picasso Black and White February 23–May 26, 2013

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Picasso Black and White, the first major exhibition to focus on the artist’s lifelong exploration of a black-and-white palette throughout his career, features paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from 1904 to 1970. The MFAH is the exclusive venue following the landmark fall 2012 premiere at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

The exhibition offers new and striking insights into Pablo Picasso’s vision and working methods. The chronological presentation includes significant loans—many of which have not been exhibited or published before—drawn from museum, private, and public collections across Europe and the United States, including numerous works from the Picasso family. 

Few artists have exerted as considerable an influence over subsequent generations as Picasso (1881–1973), who is widely considered the most important artist of the 20th century. This exhibition presents a unique and illuminating perspective on a lesser-known but fascinating aspect of his formidable body of work. Whereas Picasso’s art is often seen through the lens of his diverse styles and subjects, the recurrent use of black, white, and gray is frequently overlooked. Picasso Black and White demonstrates how the artist was continuously investigating, inventing, and drawing in austere monochromatic tones throughout his career.

Hidden Image Revealed
Conservation efforts uncovered the image Picasso originally painted underneath one of the works in the exhibition: Woman Ironing, shown here via infrared and X-ray imaging.

Exhibition Catalogue
Picasso Black and White is accompanied by a beautifully illustrated catalogue. For information, contact the MFAH Shop at 713.639.7360 or the Museum's Hirsch Library at 713.639.7325.