PICASSO – BACON

ALBERTINA MUSEUM, VIENNA

This major show undertakes an exciting juxtaposition of the 20th century’s two most important figurative painters: Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon.

Bacon was inspired to become a painter by Picasso’s works. Throughout his life, he would compete with him, eventually striving to surpass him. Bacon wanted to be the late 20th-century version of what Picasso was to its first half: a chronicler of being human in all of its tornness. Both of these seminal artists placed human existence at the core of their pictorial worlds. The subject they shared was the human figure – pulled apart, thrown back together, and reinvented with an unprecedented savagery. In their distorted portrayals, they elucidated pain, desire, and vulnerability, holding up a merciless mirror to the modern soul. To both, themes such as crucifixions, screams, bullfights, nudes, and the Tears of Eros revealed the drama of life itself. Although Picasso for his part was never influenced by Bacon, he followed his career very closely.

Although Picasso himself was not influenced by Bacon, he closely followed his career. About 70 key works from international museums and private collections illustrate in an impressive confrontation the similarities in the oeuvre of the two masters and Picasso's significance for the subsequent generation of artists.

The exhibition is on view from 18 September 2026 until 31 January 2027.

EXHIBITION PROGRAM

Public Guided Tours
Discover the exhibition’s highlights and learn more about the stories and context behind the works on a one-hour guided tour.

Dates & Tickets

For private guided tours or school group visits, please contact our Art Education Department on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at T +43 1 534 83 540 or E .

Smartphone Guide

Enjoy the exhibition at your own pace as you learn more about the background and selected works.
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PLAN YOUR VISIT

Opening hours The ALBERTINA Museum, Vienna
Daily | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday & Friday | 10 am to 9 pm

Tickets are available on site at the ticket desks during museum opening hours or in our webshop. The ticket is valid for all exhibitions of the museum that are accessible on the day of your visit.

To enjoy a relaxed visit, take advantage of hours when the museum is known to be less frequented: the early afternoons on weekdays or after 5 pm. On weekends and public holidays we also recommend visiting between 1 and 3 pm or in the evening.