A Circus Family: Picasso to Léger

I read about an exciting exhibit opening at the Baltimore Museum of Art titled A Circus Family: Picasso to Léger. It will include over 80 works (prints, drawings, paintings) by European artists who were fascinated with the spectacle of the Circus and bohemian lifestyle of its performers.

Some of the most exciting artists of the 20th century, including Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec will be included. The travelling circus performers of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries shared a similar struggle with artists, poets, musicians and creative types. Picasso spent a great deal of time at the Medrano Circus in Paris, befriending many performers.

There is something very mysterious and alluring about the circus. I admit, I do love Cirque du Soleil. It's like watching a live, three dimensional artwork unfold and develop. There must be something about the creative energy, the performers and the lifestyle that us artists find attractive. If you are in Baltimore, check this out- it sounds like a great exhibition.