For Picasso, paper was both a tool to explore his ideas and a material with limitless possibilities. He experimented with everything from newsprint and napkins to decorative wallpaper. He spent decades investigating printmaking techniques, sourcing rare and antique paper from as far as Japan – and all without losing his compulsion to draw on every last scrap.
From effortlessly expressive drawings that led to towering sculptures to the colossal collage, Femmes à leur toilette, Picasso’s work with paper spans his entire lifetime and showcases his constant drive to invent and innovate.
You will see Picasso’s creative process first-hand in remarkable documentary footage of the artist at work, studies for Guernica, and sketchbooks where the seeds of revolutionary masterpieces first took shape, including Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.
Letters, illustrated poems and photographic collaborations with Dora Maar will also offer glimpses into the artist’s life.
Immerse yourself in Picasso’s world of paper and discover how – with this everyday material we know so well – he found the means to explore the furthest reaches of his creativity.
Exhibition organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Cleveland Museum of Art in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris.
Essential information:
★ The RA is now open to Friends of the RA and will open for the public on 16 July. Find out about becoming a Friend.
★ Everyone (including Friends) must book tickets for a timed slot online or by phone.
★ As a thank you to the UK’s healthcare workers, Blue Light Card holders go free. Book online using the promo code THANKYOU; employee ID required on arrival.
★ Tickets can be transferred or refunded up to the day – call the RA box office on 0207 300 8090.
★ Read the full information about visiting the RA and staying safe during Coronavirus.
★ Download the large print guide. Physical copies of the guide will no longer be available in the galleries.
