Milan's Museo del Novecento has opened an exhibition titled "The First Picasso in Milan. A Musketeer between Revolution, Antifrancoism and International Solidarity," running until September 27, 2026. The show focuses on Pablo Picasso's painting *Homme assis* (1967), the first work by the artist to enter Milan's civic collections in 1972. Curated by Roberto Pini, the exhibition traces the painting's journey from Paris to Havana and finally to Milan, using documents, photographs, and audiovisual materials to explore its political and historical context, including its role in anti-Francoist solidarity movements.
The exhibition matters because it reframes a major Picasso work not merely as an artistic achievement but as a document of political engagement and international solidarity during a turbulent era. By connecting the painting to the 1972 exhibition "Amnistia. Que trata de España" in Milan—organized by labor unions to support Spanish political prisoners—the show highlights how art can serve as a tool for civil rights and democratic debate. This historical-critical approach offers visitors a deeper understanding of the intersection between art, politics, and cultural memory in the 20th century.