March 26 - June 6, 2009

522 West 21st Street, NYC

This free show at the Gogosian in Chelsea of more than a hundred of Picasso's later works (1962-72) is a revelation. After walking through the pieces -- small prints to very large canvases -- one can only marvel at the brilliance of his last years. The work comes in reserved earth tones and bright splashy colors but is always filled with whimsy. A character -- perhaps Picasso -- appears throughout with his little mustache and a glint in his eye. It is raunchy, it is fun, it is lecherous and it knocks you over. That's not to say there aren't some failures; he produced too much for everything to be top notch but the hits are home runs.

Walking through I kept grinning and laughing. I imagined this randy, mischievous old man, brush in hand having the time 

Portait de l'homme à l'épée et à la fleur, 1969

Oil on canvas 57 1/2 x 45 1/2 inches (146 x 115 cm)

© 2009 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS ), New York