Three works on the theme of bathers stand out as another highlight in the exhibition. On Feb 8, 1937, nationalist troops seized Picasso's birthplace of Malaga. In the space of just a few days -- on Feb 10, 12 and 18 -- Picasso painted three disquieting beach scenes dominated by monumental bathers. He distorted their bodies and opted for a minimal palette.

The landscapes are reduced to just a few lines, yet the viewer's gaze remains focused on theses monstrous figures, inspired by Picasso's conversations with surrealists Man Ray, Paul Eluard and Dora Maar, with whom he spent the summers of 1936 and 1937.

Long kept in private collections, these three works have rarely graced exhibitions.