If you're an art lover, book your tickets to the Picasso Museum in Paris, which houses the world's largest collection of works by the painter from Málaga.
Hôtel Salé in Paris: The World’s Largest Picasso Collection
The Hôtel Salé, a spectacular 17th-century Baroque mansion located in the Le Marais neighborhood, is home to the Picasso Museum in Paris, officially known as the Musée National Picasso-Paris.
This art museum houses the world’s largest collection of works by Pablo Ruiz Picasso. The painter from Málaga, the leading exponent of Cubism, is considered one of the foremost artists of the 20th century.
The museum’s collection spans Picasso’s entire career. It consists of masterpieces from the artist’s studios, which he kept until his death, as well as his complete archives, comprising more than 200,000 items.
Masterpieces
With your ticket, you can explore the museum’s various galleries at your own pace, where you’ll appreciate works from all of Picasso’s periods (Blue, Rose, Cubist, and Classical) as well as from his later years. Some of the most famous paintings on display at the museum are as follows:
- Self-Portrait: one of the masterpieces of the Blue Period, painted in 1901, when he was only 20 years old.
- La Celestina: painted in 1904, also during the Blue Period, it is one of Picasso’s best-known portraits.
- Paul Dressed as a Harlequin: a 1924 painting in which Picasso, returning to classicism, portrays his first son.
- Portrait of Dora Maar: this 1937 work is a gem of Cubism.
- The Kiss: a 1969 painting from the Malaga-born painter’s final period.
In addition to paintings, the museum displays various sculptures by Picasso, such as The Goat and Bull’s Head.
Picasso’s Personal Collection
The museum not only features works by Picasso but also houses pieces by other artists that the Málaga-born artist collected throughout his life. Among these paintings are Matisse’s Marguerite and works by other artists greatly admired by Picasso, such as Cézanne, Miró, Degas, and Rousseau.
Opening Hours
The Picasso Museum in Paris is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 6 pm. Last admission is at 5:15 pm, and the galleries begin closing at 5:40 pm.
Special Hours
- On December 24 and 31, the museum will close at 5 pm.
- In addition to Mondays, the museum is closed on January 1, May 1, and December 25.
Free Admission
Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month.
In addition, regardless of the date of your visit, admission to the museum is free for European Union citizens under 26 and for children under 18 of any nationality.