Five Easy Pieces : vimarsana.com

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Jonathan Richman had it wrong: Pablo Picasso
was an asshole, and people talk about it all the time. The curatorial statement for the Frist’s
Picasso. Figures. exhibition begins with a question — “Was Pablo Picasso a misogynist?” — and quickly answers with a resounding affirmative. It’s refreshing to see this level of honesty when the flawed master is so often treated with reverence.
The reckoning between great art and the sexist, sometimes-abusive men who create it is complicated, and even an exhibition as thorough as the Frist’s doesn’t leave enough space to unpack all those ideas. What it does manage, though, is to create space enough to consider the questions. The exhibition features a film of Picasso painting on glass that’s projected at life size, as well as portraits he painted at ages 13 and 90. Suffice to say, if you haven’t been to the Frist to see the show yet: Do it. If you’ve been already: Go back. This is an exhibition that rewards multiple visits. Here are some of our favorites parts — all of which need to be seen in person to be fully appreciated.