Photo : Ministère de la Culture – Médiathèque du patrimoine et de la photographie, Dist. GrandPalaisRmn / Jean Mounicq
Tour: "André Malraux and Pablo Picasso: The Imaginary Museum"
Upon Picasso's death in 1973, his widow Jacqueline Roque asked André Malraux to assist her in managing the painter's estate. During a visit to Notre-Dame-de-Vie, the novelist and politician discovered the artist's final home and studio, as well as the entire collection of works he had accumulated over the years. Malraux thus gained access to the painter's artistic process and to a part of his imaginary museum.
Musée national Picasso-Paris (Paris 3rd)
About
From this visit was born La tête d’obsidienne, a collection of memories and fictionalized conversations in which Malraux evokes his relationship with Picasso, which took root in their shared commitment to the Spanish Civil War. However, while Malraux makes Picasso a central figure of his Imaginary Museum, Picasso almost never mentions the novelist. Therefore, La Tête d’obsidienne sheds light less on the real friendship between Picasso and Malraux than on the latter's relationship with the painter's work, in contact with which he refined his own theories.
Our take on this event
Discover the complex dynamic between a literary giant and an iconic painter through this thought-provoking exhibition. It uncovers how Malraux built his own vision of art by obsessively analyzing the creations of his Spanish contemporary. Step into a dialogue that is as much about profound interpretation as it is about creative legacy.
The Musée national Picasso-Paris presents the exhibition André Malraux and Pablo Picasso: The Imaginary Museum, running from November 10, 2026, to February 7, 2027. This showcase explores the profound influence of Picasso’s body of work on Malraux’s theories, specifically through the literary lens of La Tête d’obsidienne. Set in the 3rd arrondissement, this exhibition invites art enthusiasts to examine a complex intellectual relationship forged during the Spanish Civil War. Tickets are priced between 0 and 16 euros. This is a unique opportunity to understand how Malraux shaped his cultural vision through his encounter with Picasso’s artistic genius.
Explore the intricate dynamic between novelist André Malraux and painter Pablo Picasso at the Musée national Picasso-Paris. Drawing inspiration from Malraux's fictionalized memoir, La Tête d’obsidienne, this exhibition investigates how the writer used Picasso's artistic creations to refine his own theories on art. While their friendship was solidified by their shared dedication to the cause of the Spanish Civil War, the exhibition focuses on the one-sided intellectual dialogue between Malraux’s conception of the Imaginary Museum and Picasso’s actual creative practice.
The exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, between 09:00 and 18:00. The full display period runs from November 10, 2026, to February 7, 2027, with the venue accessible from October 06, 2026. Located in the heart of the 3rd arrondissement, the museum offers entry prices ranging from 0 to 16 euros. Visitors are encouraged to prepare for an insightful experience that bridges the gap between literary theory and visual mastery.
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