The Fundació Palau presents the relationship between Picasso and various Catalan artists through portraits.

Within the program of the Picasso Celebration 1973-2023, an initiative promoted by the Governments of Spain and France that pays tribute to the artist on the 50th anniversary of his death, the exhibition Picasso on the retina. Portraits of Catalan Artists at the Fundació Palau in Caldes d'Estrac (Barcelona), which will remain open from October 21 to February 18, 2024.

Curated by Eduard Vallès, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, and Sebastià Sánchez Sauleda, PhD in Art History and BA in History from the University of Barcelona, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on the relationship between Picasso and different contemporary Catalan artists, and traces the links and mutual influence through an intriguing approach: portraiture.

Through a wide variety of portraits, spanning from the late 19th century to the present day, it examines Picasso's interactions with prominent Catalan personalities such as Sebastià Junyent, Ramon Casas, Ramon Riu Dòria, Ricard Canals, Manuel Pallarès, Salvador Dalí and Joan Vidal i Ventosa. In addition, it also highlights how Picasso influenced those artists who admired him and celebrated his success.

Many of the works on view are little known, including several drawings, sculptures and oil paintings. These portraits are divided into three categories; biographical, tribute and caricatured visions, and offer a comprehensive view of how Picasso was perceived and represented.

Picasso on the Retina. Portraits of Catalan Artists is a unique opportunity to explore the complex relationships between Picasso and contemporary Catalan artists in the years he resided in Catalonia, as well as his lasting influence on the autonomous community's art scene.