For the first time, the Albertina is bringing together its remarkable Picasso permanent loans.
The fact that Vienna is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the death of the most famous modern painter with its own exhibition is more of a miracle than a duty: after all, no one in this country has ever wanted to afford the expensive works of Pablo Picasso. Except for Heidi Horten, in whose private collection there are (at least) six of his paintings, although these are not always on display in the new museum.
In the possession of a federal museum, not a single painting by Picasso, who died on April 8, 1973 at the age of 91, is listed. Even the mighty portrait of his last wife, Jaqueline Rocque, from 1960 in the Mumok permanent exhibition is only a guest, albeit a loyal one: it has been on permanent loan from Cologne’s Ludwig Foundation since 1991.