Alberto [antikvár]

PICASSO ABOUT ALBERTO We all called him Alberto and hardly anybody remembered his surname. Alberto- simply Alberto-that was enough, for there was only one Alberto. His personality was strong and deep, and his keen sense of humour and ready wit were penetrating and kindly. He was indeed a very great man, üke the sculpture he showed at the Exhibition of Paris; and a search should be made for it, it ought to be found. The works of Alberto have had a considerable influence on many artists of our time- many important artists. His theories and his work gave rise to an unrest that led to creativeness and lent an impulse to the avant-garde artistic movements which were breaking away from academism and reactionary conformism in Spain. I remember two pithy anecdotes which characterize Alberto's conception of art. Once when we entered a new house Alberto gave a partition wall a powerful kick, and tossed away the broken pieces. "This house is no good," he said. "Like these modern houses, art that cannot stand kicks cannot be good art." Once Alberto told me a story: At the Prado there was a copyist who went crazy. It happened while he was copying a picture that contained thirty-three birds. As Alberto was passing by he counted the birds on the canvas and noticed that one was missing from the copy. Thereupon the copyist alsó counted the birds-and missed two. As a result of this error, Alberto said, the copyist ended up in a lunatic asylum. I often recall this story Alberto told, not just because it is amusing, but because it criticizes art that relies on pure imitation. Our Alberto was truly a great man, a very great man. October 27, 1963