Pablo Picasso and Jacqueline Roque circa 1957. Photograph by David Douglas Duncan. Estate of Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2014.

My weekend was made even better by Picasso & Jacqueline: The Evolution of Style, a terrific exhibition at Pace Gallery’s 25th Street and 57th Street locations. Included are some 140 works created by Picasso that depict his last wife Jacqueline Roque, in addition to over 50 photographs of the couple taken by the celebrated American photojournalist and close friend of the artist, David Douglas Duncan. It is absolutely fantastic to see these works presented together within the context of Duncan’s gorgeous photographs. This show represents the last twenty years of Picasso’s life and career and is the first to focus solely on Jacqueline as, arguably, his most important muse. And many of these pieces have never been on view to the public before now. The paintings in particular seem so personal and so loving — I honestly can’t recall even one in which she is distorted in any way. Quite illuminating!  

Picasso & Jacqueline: The Evolution of Style is on view through January 10 — this Saturday! — at Pace Gallery, 534 West 25th Street and 32 East 57th Street, NYC

www.pacegallery.com