PICASSO AND DANCE. OPERA DE PARIS

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was without a doubt one of the most versatile artists of the 20th century - a painter, draftsman, sculptor and engraver, he never stopped investigating a wide range of techniques, exploring the most diverse fields and forms of expression. In the 1910s, he discovered the world of show business and started working on the creation of sets and costumes that would mark the history of ballet. Parade (1917), The Three-Cornered Hat (1919), Pulcinella (1920) and Mercure (1924) are all major landmark works for this art. Picasso's legacy remains alive in the Ballet repertoire of the Paris Opera, which demonstrates how important a role he played in the choreographic landscape of the time.

However, looking beyond the world of ballet, we can see that Picasso expressed an interest in dance from a young age. From the circus dancers of the 1900s, to the bacchanal scenes of the 1940s to 1960s, to the erotic dances of Picasso’s later work, everything seemed to be a pretext to depicting bodies in movement. The dynamics of the danced movement thus featured in all of the master’s work, sometimes going so far as to in fact fuel his artistic expression.

The exhibition held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Paris National Opera explores the different aspects of Picasso's relationship with dance, from company life and creative research, to fine arts and performing arts...................

https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/visits/exhibitions/picasso-and-dance/i-the-ballets-russes-company