It took the Metropolitan Museum of Art nearly 50 years to wake up to Pablo Picasso. It didn't own one of his paintings until 1946, when Gertrude Stein bequeathed that indomitable quasi-Cubistic picture of herself - a portrait of the writer as a sumo Buddha - to the Met, principally because she disliked the Museum of Modern Art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art took nearly 50 years to acquire a Pablo Picasso painting, with Gertrude Stein's bequest of a portrait of herself being the catalyst. This quote highlights the museum's slow recognition of Picasso's importance.
The quote emphasizes the Met's delayed appreciation of Picasso's work, with Stein's gift serving as a turning point. It also touches on the unique nature of the portrait, which depicts Stein as a sumo Buddha.
The quote takes place in the mid-20th century, with Picasso's work gaining popularity in the 1940s. The Met's acquisition of the painting marked a shift in their collecting habits.
Jerry Saltz is an American art critic and journalist. He is known for his insightful and engaging writing style, which often explores the intersection of art and culture.