At the Musee Picasso

Since today's ramblings had brought me into the Marais, I decided to find the Musee Picasso. Finally there, I paid the entrance fee and spent the entire afternoon.

I really enjoyed being at this museum. Aside from the artwork itself, there were two things I enjoyed: 1) it was not the Louvre (I've only been once — in 2008 — and found it too overwhelming), and 2) of the hundreds of people there, I only saw two people taking photographs of the artwork. I just must insert a strong personal dislike here, that being people who amble through art galleries taking photographs of the art. When I'm at an art museum, I like to look at the art, not be surrounded by camera after camera. It just grates me no end. Come on folks, have the experience of looking at the art. Absorb what you are seeing, be here in the moment and savour the experience! If you want a picture, buy a print or buy a book — those photos will be superior to what you are taking. My mind was boggled when I went to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. The room was filled with people with cameras taking photographs of the painting. Of course now there will be people with cameras taking selfies with the Mona Lisa in the background, right? UGH!  Okay, sorry for the rant, but I needed to get that out of my system. Anyway, I don't know what accounted for the scarcity of cameras, but I was very thankful for it.

Anyway, as I was saying, I really enjoyed the experience at the Musee Picasso today. It was so interesting to read of what influenced him and how he evolved. I loved hearing about the relationships he had with his friends, with his wives and mistresses — so many names I recognised, and it was so interesting to see his paintings of them, as well as some period photographs. I loved seeing a faded photo of Picasso and Fernande with their two little dogs. (It recalled to mind the one-woman show I did as Gertrude Stein, talking about all these people.)

I had obtained an audio guide and that, along with printed copy, provided some great background and explanations. I have a long way to go in terms of understanding Cubism — art, to paraphrase Picasso, as a concept that can be comprehended by the mind, but not understood by the eye. I would like to understand it, but then again, here is a quote by Picasso:

Everyone wants to understand painting. Why don't people try to understand the song of the birds? Why do people love a night, a flower, everything around them, without trying to understand it? Whereas, with painting, they want to understand……… Those who try to explain a painting generally get it wrong.

The view from my window. I can envision this reconstructed as a Cubist painting.
Notre Dame is just on the other side of this building and across the river.
When the bells are pealing, pealing, pealing, I sometimes open the window and just stand and absorb the sound.