Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris

It wasn't until probably the fifth or sixth time I heard someone raving about the rare Picasso exhibit at the VMFA that I was finally moved to plan a visit. Not much of a disciple of art, I had Picasso pinned as much older than a twentieth century phenomenon and could have articulately described his style as “crazy.”

Obviously, I know very little about art and even less about Picasso. Nevertheless, I enjoy venturing out to exhibits occasionally, probably because there is no particular objective or goal required of the experience other than enjoyment, and enjoyment defined as you like it. You can leave fascinated, confused, enlightened- it really doesn’t matter. But did you enjoy? Did you laugh or learn?

I didn’t know how to rightly appreciate Picasso’s lines, shapes, and colors, but I did enjoy learning about the man’s approach. The nonconformist stance Picasso took to his art communicated a bold fearlessness that was free to explore and reinvent. He was nonconformist not just in the way he painted and sculpted in comparison to others, but more so in the way he painted and sculpted in comparison to himself. Surely it was a safer career move to gain momentum in one style or market, but Picasso’s absolute refusal to conform is what earned him recognition and distinctive praise.

The commentators agree, explaining, "Picasso's long and productive career is marked by an unflagging spirit of exploration and discovery. Informed by his native Spain and France-where he spent most of his life-Picasso devoured influences and spat out innovations one after another."

So I left the exhibit invigorated and inspired by this adventure of dynamic innovation Picasso embraced in his work. He recognized the status quo’s tendency to suffocate creativity, and like a skilled physician, refused to let his patient die due to conventionalism. I’m at a loss for the specific application that my type-A mind yearns to draft from this. But then I remember the goal: enjoyment.

Here exemplifies just a small sample of the variety of styles Picasso explored, including Cubism and the Blue Period.