From muse to wife – Jacqueline and Picasso, a relationship through drawing

On display at the Institut Gallery until 20 December 2025, the exhibition Picasso, Drawings 1903–1972 portrays the artist through his love for Jacqueline. Initially seen as a muse and model, Jacqueline later became his wife and left an indelible mark on Picasso's work during the last two decades of his life.

‘Rather than giving her a bouquet of fresh flowers, he gave his wife a bouquet he had drawn,’ says Marc Lebouc, president of Quedillart, the institute's gallery. Part of Picasso's work is being showcased in a new location at 16 Rue de Seine in Paris. Known for his prolific work across all media, the exhibition focuses on a slightly overlooked part of his later life: his relationship with Jacqueline. Between the white and red curtains of the exhibition, the subdued atmosphere and the stroll through the different spaces of the gallery, the viewer is immersed in a truly intimate bubble.

From muse to wife

It is through drawings on canvas or paper that viewers discover Jacqueline, Picasso's last wife. With 70% of the works corresponding to this period, the exhibition features portraits, sketches, drafts and partially completed drawings, revealing the importance Jacqueline had in Picasso's life. With no particular movement evident, this period is the result of simple creativity in its raw state. From the imposing drawing of Jacqueline with her legs folded to a bouquet of flowers for 14 February, visitors wander from one study to another, discovering the richness of the artist's works.

Inspired throughout her life by her muses, whose role is sometimes controversial today in the #MeToo era, Jacqueline, the artist's last wife, remains a major figure in his work. To describe this unique relationship between the painter and his model, Marc Lebouc chose the words of Hélène Parmelin in Les Dames de Mougins: ‘Jacqueline is said to be Picasso's model, a posing model. Jacqueline does not pose, but she is always there. She does not pose, she lives...’. These drawings exude an intensely lively presence, immortalising the present moment and captivating the gaze of visitors.

An unpublished work

While the exhibition honours Jacqueline, it also aims to showcase the artist's work from his early days in 1903 until 1972. Accessible to all audiences, Marc Lebouc wants to offer a new perspective on these works. ‘This exhibition is for everyone, especially people who think they know his work but who, I hope, will discover new pieces and lesser-known periods,’ he says.

Picasso, master of the 20th century, still has works to reveal. Available until 20 December 2025 at the Galerie de l'Institut, Picasso, Drawing 1903-1972 offers a retrospective of the artist through the prism of strong female figures.