"Most Chinese artists focus too much on traditional Chinese paintings, while this is good ... they never try to go one step beyond. They are always imitating other people's styles but art should be about one's own expression and thinking," said Zeng.
But some visitors found Picasso's erotic depiction of women's bodies in his 1968 illustrations for Fernando de Roja's 1499 novel La Cilestine too radical.
"Chinese people are not so expressive about bodies and desire, they don't really accept this side of modern art," said Liu.
Even so, the master's works seem to have the power to push aside cultural differences to reach the hearts of the less-sophisticated ordinary people.
Ling Chunliao, 74, a retired worker, said he came to spend his day at the art gallery with no specific aim.
"Picasso? I don't know who he is. I don't know where he is from," said the old man, sporting a blue Mao jacket and hat -- an increasingly rare sight in the Chinese capital nowadays.
Asked what he thought of the exhibition, he said: "It's quite nice I suppose. I like the bullfighting pictures, now I know more about bullfighting, my heart is somewhat fulfilled."
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