The Picasso Museum in Malaga, in the city where the famous artist was born, presents visitors a large collection in which you can see more than 200 of his works, including drawings, ceramics, graphics and sculptures.
Picasso and his dream of creating a museum
Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga (Spain) in 1881, therefore this city is the birthplace of the famous artist, there is also a house in which Picasso was born, declared a historical monument of Spain in 1983.
Picasso, a brilliant French artist of Spanish descent, is still considered the most prolific and multifaceted master who proved himself not only in painting, but also in ceramics, sculpture, graphics and design. Since 1904, he lived in Paris, where he worked on his works, experimenting with color and form. During these years, he became the founder of the artistic movement of Cubism, in which all the traditional functions of art are rejected.
In the 1920s, he writes works close to surrealism, creating his own expressive and frantic manner in paintings. As a designer, he participated in the design of Diaghilev's “Russian Seasons” in Paris. The works of this great artist, despite the pessimistic mood, are imbued with faith in the triumph of life.
The idea of creating the museum belonged to Picasso himself, who expressed it in 1953. But the implementation of the plan began only after almost 40 years, when in 1992 an exhibition was organized by his wife Cristina Ruiz-Picasso in this building.
But only 10 years later, in 2003, the museum was inaugurated by the King of Spain, Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
Not far from this building is also the Picasso House Museum in Malaga on Piazza Merced, 15, in which the artist was born. Here is his workshop, personal family items, as well as his work.
Museum exposition and exhibitions
The museum is located in the Buenavista Palace, located in the central part of the Jewish quarter of Malaga. Most of the works - 150 of 233 - at the Picasso Museum in Malaga donated by Christina Ruiz-Picasso and the grandson of the artist Bernard.
The building is divided into 14 rooms with a permanent exhibition of works, often holding temporary thematic exhibitions.
The main collection of the museum in the Palacio de Buenavista, entitled "8 Decades of Picasso's Art", consists of paintings and sculptures, among which there are earlier and later works. The exhibition tells you step by step about the different eras of the artist’s creativity in the period 1892-1972, allowing you to trace the creative growth and change in the style and character of the author himself. On them you can get acquainted with his personal life.
The bright pearl of the collection of the Picasso Museum in Malaga is a portrait of his first wife O. Khokhlova, a Russian ballerina.
Picasso dreamed of seeing a collection of his own works in his hometown. And people who saw this collection will never remain indifferent. They are imbued with the work of the great artist, the spirit of the southern country of Spain.
There is also a library in the building, which contains books, letters and photographs related to the life and work of the artist, however, permission to visit it must be agreed in advance through the museum website.
There is a gift shop on site with various magnets and posters depicting Picasso and his work. In the courtyard is a small cafe.
Buenavista Palace
The palace of the counts of Buenavista was built in 1530 according to the project of architect D. de Casay on the ruins of the Moorish castle of Nasrid, some elements of the style of which are still present. This happened 50 years after Malaga became a Catholic city. After the death of Casaglia, the palace became the property of the Counts of Mollin, and since the 19th century. became the palace of Buenavista.
Since 1961, it became the Provincial Museum of Art, and then, from 1997, the placement of the exposition and the creation of the Picasso Museum in Malaga began.
The architectural style of the 2-story building is typical of Andalusian buildings, it also added elements of the Moorish culture: arches, vaulted floors, gypsum ornaments, balconies, colored tiles on wall panels. In the center of the palace is a patio.
Museum coordinates, opening hours
Malaga is a provincial town, where you can easily reach all attractions on foot, there are signs at the crossroads especially for tourists.
The museum is located right in the center. Address of the Picasso Museum in Malaga: Buenavista Palace, ul. St. Augustine, 8 (Calle San Agustín, 8).
Tourists and visitors can take an audio guide in Russian.
The opening hours of the Picasso Museum in Malaga depend on the time of year:
- in July-August - from 10.00 to 20.00,
- from November to February - until 18.00;
- in the remaining months - until 19.00.
The museum does not work on holidays, and on the rest of the days it accepts all the tourists who bought a ticket with pleasure; on Sunday, 2 hours before closing, admission is free. Monday is a day off.