‘Erotic’ painting disowned by Picasso expected to have US debut in major exhibit at NYC museum

Disowned Picasso painting to have US debut in NYC

NEW YORK — A painting disowned by Pablo Picasso is expected to have its U.S. debut in a major exhibit of his work at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, though it’s unlikely to be a highlight of the show.

Questions have been raised about the authenticity of the painting, which is called “Erotic Scene” and shows a naked woman nestling her head in a man’s lap.

But the Met’s curator of 19th-century, Modern and contemporary art says that wasn’t the reason it had been kept in storage since being acquired in 1982. Curator Gary Tinterow says it was simply “not very good.” He calls it “slapdash.”

Maybe that’s why Picasso said the painting was “a joke by friends.”

Tinterow says Met researchers confirmed it was by Picasso before including it in the show of 300 works opening April 27.

On the Net:

Metropolitan Museum of Art: www.metmuseum.org/

Information from: The New York Times, www.nytimes.com