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Colby College Museum Gifted With 100 ‘Remarkable’ Pablo Picasso?? Etchings

By Ny MaGee
Published on: 12:35 PST, May 6, 2016

The Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville, Maine, has acquired a deluxe set of 100 rare etchings by Pablo Picasso. Considered the “premier global art destination,” the work will be accessible to locals and Colby students for research and study. As the museum notes, Picasso’s Vollard Suite (1939), is considered his “finest achievement in printmaking.” The acquisition was made possible by the generosity of philanthropists and longtime Maine residents, Peter and Paula Lunder. The couple are dedicated Colby College benefactors, who also gifted their collection of American art to the museum in 2013, according to Colby.edu. It included nearly 500 works and was valued at $100 million.

“This is a truly remarkable gift that will be a delight to visitors and create a tremendous set of experiences for the generations of students who will learn from studying this phenomenal series of etchings,” said Colby President David A. Greene. “We are so grateful to the Lunders, whose generosity and unmatched dedication have made the museum a destination for people from around the world and a defining asset of Colby College.”

Sixty-five prints from the suite will be on view at the museum from June 2 through August 21, 2016, and the full series will be on view at the museum during spring and summer of 2018. Director Sharon Corwin said that the Vollard Suite reflects themes that Picasso explored as an artist, including “mythology, identity, creativity and sexuality,” per the Press Herald.

“You often see the artist himself in many of these, the self-portraiture and the self-definition that made him such an extraordinary artist,” she said. “This work not only represents an amazing opportunity for Colby students and the College community, but for our many Maine neighbors who visit the museum.”

Founded in 1959, the Colby College Museum of Art comprises “more than 8,000 works of art, and more than 38,000 square feet of exhibition space.” Admission to the museum is free and hours vary during the academic year. Colby College was founded in 1813, and is considered one of America’s “most selective colleges” with a “rigorous academic program.” Colby offers more than 100 courses that “integrate the museum’s resources to enhance the academic experience.” Pablo Picasso’s Vollard Suite will be incorporated into many classes starting this fall.

Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, poet, and playwright who is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He was influenced by artistic masters such as Vincent van Gogh and Francisco Goya, and the man himself served as an influence on pioneers like Salvador Dali and Georges Braque. Picasso spent most of his adult life living in France, (where he died in 1973), and is known for co-founding the Cubist movement.

Picasso etched the Vollard Suite in a neoclassical style that he adapted from his studies of classical sculpture. The work is vital because it traces his artistic development during a pivotal moment in his career. It is believed to be one of only eight signed, deluxe sets in the country, and the only one held by a collegiate museum. Six images from the suite can be viewed at the Colby College Museum of Art.

Back in February, Pablo Picasso’s great-grandson thanked Kanye West for naming his latest album after the famous painter. Check out the video clip above in which Florian Picasso, the adopted relative, reveals to TMZ that his family members are huge fans of the rapper. Florian, who is a DJ and music producer, and is active in the Picasso empire, also says that his family would like to collaborate with West on something similar to what they have done with Jay Z.

Pablo Picasso’s granddaughter, Marina Picasso, “bared her pain and anger at the Picasso clan” in her 2001 memoir, Picasso: My Grandfather. Last year, the New York Times reported how her rebellion rattled the art community because she was preparing to sell off many of Picasso’s artworks “to finance and broaden her philanthropy.”

[Image via Shutterstock]

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