Picasso himself

Pablo Picasso was well aware of photography's power to communicate, and from his early years had been interested in the medium, experimenting with it and exploring its possibilities. But, above all, he seems to have understood the importance of creating a public image, and the ability to sustain a cult of personality.

MemyselfandI. Photographic Portraits of Picasso, an exhibition on view at Museo Picasso Málaga (Spain), examines this relationship with photography. A total of 166 pictures by 34 photographers are on display in the exhibition, many of them vintage copies.

Among the photographers are some of the greatest names in world photography, such as Brassaï, Richard Avedon, Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Lee Miller and Man Ray. They include Surrealists, such as Dora Maar, celebrity portraitists, like Cecil Beaton, and photographers from the famous Magnum agency, such as Robert Capa and Inge Morath. Some of these shots – which include portraits, posed studio shots and scenes from his private life - have now attained the status of universal icons.

The collection covers a period that began in the early 20th century –the bohemian years in Paris— with pictures in which we see a playful Picasso, surrounded by friends and acquaintances. These shots were mostly taken by his artist friends. In his later years, famous artists were given access to portray him, so the settings seem rather more rigid and controlled. As the book published to coincide with the exhibiton explains, in response to the growing interest in his person, Picasso turned himself into a director, set desginer, props master and performer in his photos. They were the forerunners of the media events staged by Andy Warhol.

Date: until June 10
Location: Museo Picasso Málaga. Palacio de Buenavista. c/ San Agustín, 8. 29015 Málaga, Spain. Opening hours: from Tuesdays to Thursdays and Sundays from 10am to 8pm. Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 9pm