At the beginning of the 20th century, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880–1938) and Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) witnessed the dawn of a new era, with their works reflecting change, crisis, and passion. Although they never met in person, their artistic worlds and styles reveal striking convergences. Bringing together 100 works from major European museums, this exhibition is the first to explore these two singular artists and their unexpected parallels in such depth, shedding light on both the affinities and contrasts between two of modernism's most influential figures.
Both artists portrayed the glamour of urban life alongside its hidden struggles, such as loneliness and poverty. Their portraits—especially those of their partners—trace evolving stylistic approaches, while recurring subjects like bathers and nudes evoke deeper questions about the artist–model relationship. The exhibition also examines how each artist crafted his public image: Kirchner through introspective self-portraits revealing his personal turmoil, and Picasso through the myth of the Minotaur and carefully staged photographs.
Set against the backdrop of Franco-German artistic exchange and the upheavals of the early 20th century, the exhibition interweaves their biographies and creative paths with broader cultural and historical movements.
