Pablo Picasso & Marc Chagall: Passion Projects - Bullfight! & The Bible

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Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, "Passion Projects: Bullfight! & The Bible," 2021

Pablo Picasso & Marc Chagall: Passion Projects - BULLFIGHT! & THE BIBLE

Passion Projects is an exploration of the deeply personal inspiration and work of two of the 20th century’s most acclaimed artists; Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall.   BULLFIGHT!  by Pablo Picasso explores his lifelong fascination with the sport, cultural tradition, and imagery of bullfighting.  THE BIBLE by Marc Chagall is a series of images reflecting stories told in the Old Testament, a source of inspiration for him.

Picasso’s prevailing interest in bullfighting came from his Spanish heritage, and the cultural environment he was raised in.  Born in 1881, in Malága, Spain, Picasso began attending bullfights at the age of seven. For the rest of his life, bulls, bullfights, and the Minotaur (a half-bull half-man figure from Greek mythology) would be frequent themes in his artwork. The exhibition includes 38 prints and 3 sculptures.

Initially commissioned to create 100 etchings of the Bible,  this opportunity allowed Marc Chagall to create works that incorporated elements of Jewish folklore inspired by his Russian Hasidic-Jewish upbringing.  The resulting etchings showcase a soft approach to his colour usage and style creating smoky, mystical landscapes and figures.  The exhibition includes 20 etchings from the series depicting stories from the Old Testament.

**Please be aware that the exhibition will open to the public on October 1, as September 30 is National Truth and Reconciliation Day**

On September 30, the Gallery will be closed in acknowledgement of National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Our closure is in honour of those we lost through residential schools, for the resilience of the survivors and their families and to publicly commemorate this tragic history and ongoing legacy. Our preference, rather than visiting us on this day, is for everyone to consider their role in reconciliation.  

Many resources are available to assist you in learning more about this issue and about our collective responsibilities around reconciliation. One such resource is on the Government of Canada website. Begin your learning journey.