Picasso in New York: We can’t get enough, it seems

From The Economist…

Get art out of the basements,” declared Eli Broad, a Los Angeles billionaire and art collector, to a conference of museum professionals in May. “With all the money being spent to store and conserve work,” he later told the Art Newspaper, “it doesn’t make sense economically or morally not to share it with the largest possible audience.”

Sage advice, particularly in these rough times for museums, when dusting off what’s in storage is far more appealing than coordinating a big and costly show.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is already revelling in its decision to stage “Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art”, a magnificent in-house blockbuster we reviewed when it opened in April. The show featured hundreds of Picasso’s paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics from the Met’s permanent collection, most of which are typically hidden from public view. As my colleague said last week, Picasso had the Midas touch; new figures show that the exhibition drew over 703,000 visitors during its 17-week period, which ended on Sunday, making it the seventh most popular show at the museum since the Met began keeping track 50 years ago. Luring so many people to see works you’ve had all along must be like making a killing at a garage sale, but then keeping all the golf clubs, Nancy Drew paperbacks and lawn furniture. More…