The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of Philadelphia’s greatest treasures.  One of my favorite places in the Philadelphia Art Museum to visit is the Armory.  At first, (at least for me), it is quite unexpected, since it is not typically what one might think of as art.  Upon further examination and observation, it does truly deserve a place of honor as art.  The intricate metal work and the attention to detail are very impressive. What always struck me was how small the armor is.  Men really were shorter back in the knights and maidens ages! There are many more surprises like this in store at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the visitor who takes the time to discover what every room and exhibit has to offer.

The latest and certainly one of the most exciting exhibits to come to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris. The following excerpt is taken from the museum’s website: “Internationally recognized as one of the most innovative and influential artists of the twentieth century, Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973) was at his most ferociously inventive between 1905 and 1945. Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris surveys his work during these crucial decades, when he transformed the history of art through his innate virtuosity and protean creativity.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself! You don’t have to be a Picasso fan to appreciate how different and recognizable Picasso’s works are. I am sure that among the two-hundred fourteen paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, you will find many surprises with-in this well known artist’s collection. One well known painting, in which he  has cast himself and his two poet friends, Three Musicians (1921), will be displayed and shows his exploration of Synthetic Cubism.  Some of these works of art have not been shown in several decades due to their sensitivity to light and delicate condition. Included in the exhibition is an audio tour which is sure to enrich your experience and knowledge of Picasso and the expatriate artists like Marc Chagall, Jacques Lipchitz, Patrick Henry Bruce, and Man Ray, who formed an, international avant-garde group known as the School of Paris. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these works en mass! (more…)