Picasso in Český Krumlov
Pablo Picasso, one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century, is drawing visitors to Český Krumlov. A new exhibition at the Monastery Gallery offers a rare look not only at his artworks but also at the life of the man himself.
Český Krumlov is famous for its picturesque architecture and beautiful cobbled streets. The new Picasso Life exhibition offers something completely different: a fascinating insight into one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the 20th century. The curator is Vilém Kobzan:
"This is a major lithograph, Lobster and Fish. In terms of style and size, it’s truly unique. It even has its own dedicated room here. The exhibition is designed not only to present the work of Pablo Picasso but also his life. So, you’ll find items that he personally used — like a hand-painted clothes hanger, or a lute that he painted himself. We also have a remarkable collection of his original ceramics, featuring his famous fauns."
Visitors will also discover Picasso’s political engagement, especially during the 1950s and 60s, when he became an active voice for peace.
"Picasso went through a period in the 1950s and 60s when he was deeply engaged with the theme of peace. He attended peace conferences and became something of a peacemaker himself. He created several works on this theme — bouquets, doves, or like here, a circle of young people."
His artistic journey was anything but linear. According to the curator, the exhibition showcases the remarkable diversity of styles that Picasso explored throughout his life. From the paintings and lithographs on display, visitors can really see Picasso’s extraordinary range.
“Picasso worked in about forty different styles over his lifetime. He began as a realist, then moved through surrealism, and into cubism — both analytical and synthetic. And even beyond that, his work from the 1950s continues to reflect his diversity. Picasso's art is characterized by this lack of uniformity; it’s wonderfully varied."
The gallery also presents a selection of posters, some of which Picasso himself had a hand in choosing.
"There’s also a mix of posters here. Some are truly unique, because they were likely selected by Picasso himself. He personally chose which image would go on the poster."
But perhaps the most personal glimpse into Picasso’s creative mind comes from his drawings. Vilém Kabzan describes how they capture the artist's spontaneous energy and love of animals.
"You can really see his spirit and thinking in these works, because they’re completely full of energy — absolutely covered in strokes and marks, showing his temperament. Picasso was a highly expressive artist. These are pieces from his more surrealist period, and they reveal his relationship with animals. He loved animals and was surrounded by them throughout his life. His studio was full of goats, chickens, all sorts of creatures — and he really enjoyed it. And here, for example, we have a beautiful drawing of a little donkey. It’s the kind of drawing that looks as though Michelangelo himself could have created it."
The uniqueness of the exhibition is further underlined by the collection of trial proofs on display — prints that Picasso himself worked on and developed. Ciprián Činátl is a gallerist and art historian:
"Every piece here is unique. These are lithographs, so-called trial proofs. These are prints that Picasso personally worked on, holding them in his hands, checking their state, and developing them further. There’s even one lithographic sheet here that represents an edition before it was finalised. What’s really significant is that this is the only triptych left in private hands. There are two other triptychs — with an edition of just five copies — that are held in the Picasso Museum in Málaga and in another museum. Otherwise, no other complete triptychs have survived."
For the organisers, the exhibition is also an opportunity to give the Monastery Gallery a fresh start and attract new audiences. Martin Malý, director of the Český Krumlov monastery complex, sees it as a bold new beginning.
"This exhibition is really the result of our efforts to breathe new life into the monastery gallery spaces. Before, we had an exhibition of illustrations here, then paintings related to Český Krumlov. From an academic point of view, those shows were excellent — but commercially, they didn’t attract much interest. If we want more visitors to come to our exhibitions, we need to bring something completely new, something that speaks to people, something they recognize. And the name Pablo Picasso was the perfect choice for this first step and for a new beginning for our gallery."
The Picasso Life exhibition at the Monastery Gallery in Český Krumlov runs until April 2026.
