Prints by four “giants” of 20th Century art Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol go on display in the McManus in Dundee.
The Courier was given a sneak preview of the Modern Masters in Print exhibition, which is from the V&A and runs until November. The exhibition follows on from the success of last year’s Leonardo da Vinci sketches, which drew more than 10,000 people.
Curator Anna Robertson said the prints promise to have a similar appeal.
She said: “I think Leonardo was unlike anything we had done before and with the excitement we’re hearing bubbling through the city we are expecting a lot of people coming to the McManus for this new exhibition.
“This for us is one of a series of ongoing partnerships with the V&A and the V&A at Dundee. We are hosting an exhibition each year to introduce the work in the V&A’s collection and the sort of work the V&A at Dundee will showcase.”
Warhol’s iconic Marilyn Monroe portraits, French railway posters by Dali and a charming little owl by Dali have been hung alongside Picasso’s circus print and distorted female forms.
Anna said: “Matisse is probably a personal favourite but the Warhol images are very, very well-known and it’s really exciting to have the originals in the building. I think the Picassos are the ones I’m likely to go back to again and again. All four are giants of 20th C entury art.”
Sarah Saunders, head of learning and engagement at V&A at Dundee said the four artists were of the highest calibre.
She said: “This is the sort of level of art we need. These are really big names and the quality’s so high.”
Drawn from the V&A’s collections of prints, posters and artists’ books Modern Masters showcases the work of the four. From the posters for the French railway to book prints, Sarah said the images on display are highly accessible.
“These artists were trying to get their work out there,” she said.
“They are very participatory and this is what we want to show we will do. We are going to be an international design centre in Scotland.
“We want to communicate to people that design is for everyone, it’s in your home and it’s a really good way to get people to think about design.”
The exhibition runs at the McManus until November 17.