Suite Vollard and Picasso’s quest for perfection

The bright red walls of the Suite Vollard exhibit inside the Metropolitan Museum of Manila foreshadows the sort of art that visitors, cultured and uncultured alike, will be exposed to when they view the rare display of Picasso's works. Suite Vollard is a collection of 100 copper etchings by Pablo Picasso done from September 1930 to March 1937. Fundacion MAPFRE acquired the complete collection in 2008—a rarity, since most of the prints today are scattered across different private and public collections. But more than just being a showcase of Picasso’s many different techniques, Suite Vollard also gives visitors a glimpse into the artists’ struggle with his work, as well as the rich history of Europe. After the press conference and shortly before opening night last Wednesday, November 9, journalists and several visitors were given a guided tour by Fundacion MAPFE’s Leyre Bozal. “Pardon my English… but I’ll try my best," said Bozal as we passed under the ribbons that were prepared for the exhibit’s formal opening. The Manila Met exhibit, Bozal explained, isn’t arranged chronologically. Instead, the prints are arranged according to themes—a series of portraits of Ambroise Vollard, who had commissioned the collection; The Battle of Love, or Rape; The Sculptor’s Studio; Rembrandt, and the Blind Minotaur, alongside other varied compositions. It wasn’t odd for Picasso to create several different etchings using varied techniques in a day, said Bozal. A recurring theme in Suite Vollard is Picasso’s then-muse, the 17-year-old Marie-Thérèse. It was the young, blonde Marie-Thérèse who had inspired the already-married Picasso to refine his skills in sculpting and engraving. It wasn’t the first time the artist tried engraving though, clarified Bozal. A model (who is presumably Marie-Thérèse) can be seen in the collection, lazily resting on a day bed with the Minotaur, Picasso’s sculptures, and even Picasso himself. The young model would also be key in the way Picasso expressed his frustration over his inability to achieve perfection in his work. Bozal explained that for an artist, one’s output is always short of perfection. “Of course, this looks perfect to you and me but for the artist, it is different," said Bozal. Picasso’s nearly manic need to produce “perfect" sculptures is especially apparent in a series of prints in which the artist worries over his work, as a bored model looks on in a detached manner. The Minotaur is another prominent figure in the collection—most notably, in Picasso’s sketches of the mythological creature set outside of the sculptor’s studio. A series of four sketches— the Blink Minotaur— depicts a Minotaur being led by a little girl. The series, Bozal explained, depicted Picasso’s uncertainty over the winds of political change sweeping Europe; at this time, fascism was beginning to make its presence felt in the region. In the series of sketches, Picasso reflects on where Europe might be heading in the near future. The little girl, seen holding a dove, is a symbol of hope and peace and may also stand for Maya, Picasso’s daughter with Marie-Thérèse, who was not yet born when the sketches were made. Suite Vollard depicts a myriad of other themes, including Picasso’s homage to Rembrandt and etchings of bullfighting, among others. Also notable are etchings in which Picasso combines cubism and surrealism in one piece. We might never really know if Picasso ultimately achieved the perfection he craved so much—but that might just be for the best. Bozal said creating a “perfect" piece may just be an artists’ worst nightmare. “Once you achieve perfection, there’s nothing left to do. You can’t do better than that," Bozal added. - YA, GMA News The Metropolitan Museum of Manila is located at the back of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas along Roxas boulevard. It is open from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday except first Mondays of the month and holidays. Museum entrance fee is P100, including access to the Suite Vollard exhibit that will be on display until January 7, 2012. For more information, call 523-0613 or visit www.metmuseum.ph.