Picasso lo straniero

Based on the in-depth research of historian Annie Cohen-Solal, the catalog accompanying the Picasso lo straniero exhibition brings Picasso’s artistic genius to Rome (Museo del Corso – Polo Museale), redefining the life and work of the Andalusian painter.

“Of all geniuses, it can be said that after them, the world, history, and daily life take on a new face as a consequence of their actions. Picasso is certainly one of them, as his work transformed the representation of reality and figurative art, steering them toward modernity and abstraction.”
Franco Parasassi, President of Fondazione Roma

Labeled an outsider, a radical, and an anarchist, Pablo Picasso was always a foreigner in a foreign land. In her introductory essay, exhibition curator Annie Cohen-Solal, historian and essayist, compares the marginalization and rejection Picasso faced from the French government to the struggles experienced by modern-day migrants – people forced to leave their homeland, only to confront the hardships and challenges of being strangers in a new world.

The Picasso lo straniero catalog, published by Marsilio Arte, accompanies the exhibition, open at Museo del Corso – Polo Museale in Rome from February 27 to June 29, 2025. The Roman exhibition marks the fifth stop in this major international project, following the Milan show at Palazzo Reale. Conceived by the Musée national Picasso – Paris and the Palais de la Porte Dorée – Musée national d’histoire de l’immigration, and organized by Fondazione Roma in collaboration with Marsilio Arte, the exhibition sheds light on a little-known yet crucial aspect of Picasso’s life. As Cécile Debray, President of the Musée national Picasso – Paris, notes in her introduction “This exhibition is particularly fitting for Rome, the city that, in 1917, was the destination of a profoundly significant journey for Picasso; the city of the Jubilee, which this year is celebrated under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’”

This traveling exhibition is inspired by Annie Cohen-Solal’s book Picasso: Una vita da straniero, published by Marsilio Editori. The book presents a compelling investigation into Picasso’s personal struggles, political ideology, and vast artistic output, reconstructing a story that remains deeply relevant today.

The Picasso lo straniero catalog opens with an introductory section featuring institutional essays, the curator’s note, and a contribution by acclaimed writer Niccolò Ammaniti, who provocatively states, “Perhaps Van Gogh was number one, but Picasso was the one who hurt the most”. Following the structure of the exhibition, the catalog traces the chronological trajectory of Picasso’s life, divided into four major sections where his personal experiences and artistic evolution are intricately intertwined.

The first chapter, The Picasso Paradox, explores his early years and his first trips to Paris between 1900 and 1906. The Triple Stigma traces the evolution of his art from 1906 to 1944, highlighting the social hardships and adversities he faced in France, culminating in the rejection of his naturalization request. The third section, Picasso the Strategic Artist, examines the period from 1944 to 1973, his new artistic experiments, and his decision to seek refuge in southern France. Finally, the narrative concludes with Picasso, our contemporary, which offers a reflection on the modern relevance of Picasso’s work from an artistic, cultural, and political perspective.

The entire catalog is richly illustrated with images covering nearly the entirety of the master’s work; the volume is completed with sections dedicated to the exhibited works.