PICASSO SCULPTURE at MoMA a Plethora of Surprises

Perhaps, lesser praise has been bestowed Picasso for his sculptures.  After viewing this phenomenal body of work, one may wonder why.  I surmise his prolific work and incomprable genius may be an impediment to the unending laudatory praise he's due.  This inspiring collection occupies the entire 4th flr in the MoMA.  The show contains more than 150 Picasso sculptures.  It's laid out in chronilogical order and includes paintings, drawings and collages.  I took pleasure in the paper structures of musical  instruments; a recurring motif.  An extensive retrospective of this magnitude has not been seen in the U.S. since the mid 60's.  The timeline illustrates the continual evolution of Picasso's genius.  Other artists whose work is reflected during the same span include Giacometti, Calder & Matisse.  The somber art made during WWII (when Nazi's forbade any exhibition of his "degenerative" work) and during the Spanish Civil War emote the horrors of war.  Several of these pieces were incorporated into his Guernica painting.  The plethora of materials utilized by Picasso were numerous:  wood, metal, clay, wire, found objects and paper.  The galleries with his later works are more fanciful & lighthearted.  Note the figurine of a woman reading on a bench.  Her limbs are constructed from screws, her torso made of wood and her face & tablet are ceramic.  I found this a delightful & serene figure.  The floral sculptures possess a kinetic sensibility that belies their rigidity.  The final gallery contains life-size statues full of whimsy & joy.  The woman pushing a stroller with an infant is humorous and the child jumping rope full of exuberance.  The totemic forms are inventive & enhanced by Picasso's brilliant brush strokes.  This show is a must go.  There is so much to behold and admire it requires an additional visit.