Life With Picasso

Like other reviewers of this excellent book, one can't help but admire the dignified and balanced candour Gilot brings to her fascinating story. I started reading this book after finishing Norman Mailer's  Portrait Of Picasso As A Young Man , and having just finished volume one and started volume two of John Richardson's epic three volume Picasso biography. All these (and many other) books on this Titan of C20th art quote from Picasso's contemporaries - friends, colleagues, lovers, dealers, and so on - so one inevitably wonders what their fuller accounts of life with Picasso will be like.This is the first autobiographical memoir I've read on this theme so far (I'd like to read Fernande Olivier's two books, but they're not easily available in affordable English versions, at least as far as I know), and it's closer to Richardson's balanced but informed (and insider) tone, and mercifully free of the macho bombast and mild art-historical cant that rather spoils Mailer's nonetheless enjoyable book. As well as the parade of notable and famous figures, Gilot gives us insights into not only her life and Picasso's, but also some of the more shadowy characters normally ignored in the art history books, such as Marcel, Picasso's chauffeur, Madame Ramié (co-owner of a pottery facility used by Picasso), and Picasso's childhood chum turned dogsbody, Sabartes.Picasso comes out of the story much as we already know him, only fleshed out in more intimate detail, as both heroic artist and complex and demanding man. Indeed, his bad qualities - chiefly an egocentric and driven nature that will sacrifice all (self included) at the altar of his art - whilst sometimes comical, often sad, and frequently childish, somehow don't threaten to destroy his greatness as an artist. Indeed, they add to it in that perverse way that the idea/myth of the artist as a figure outside mainstream conventions suggests. And at the same time Gilot emerges as a dignified, intelligent and fascinating person herself. On the one hand we pity her the tough experiences, whilst on the other we envy her that closeness to someone she herself clearly not only loved, but admired. Without taking a crass route - revenge by character assassination for example - Gilot just tells it like (we trust and hope) it was. Fascinating! Portrait Of Picasso As A Young Man

This is a great book if you just fancy an enjoyable read and, at the same time, get a glimpse into the private life of the 20th century's most famous painter.Gilot, who spent 10 years with Picasso and had two of his children, portrays him as vain, petty, childish, selfish and someone who cast off his various wives and mistresses when he got bored with them. However, he still involved them in his life, making their lives miserable and reveled in having women squabbling over him, according to Gilot. The fact that he became involved with Gilot, who was 40 years younger, shows he never learned from previous experiences. On the other hand, the fact that a 21-year-old woman fell for a bald 61-year-old man shows he must have been attractive and persuasive.Had this book been written in today's politically correct times, Picasso would, no doubt, be portrayed as a sexist monster. However, Gilot gets her revenge for Picasso's treatment of her by ridiculing him, thereby making the book more entertaining. No wonder he tried to ban it.A lot of what she says has to be taken with a pinch of salt and the translation is unimpressive but the book is worth reading. It is certainly better than the feeble film version with Anthony Hopkins.

I was enthralled especially with the descriptions of how Picasso painted. Gilot gives a really fascinating insight into this remarkable prolific artist. I could not warm to the man, however, and felt that F Gilot put up with his bullying for far too long considering how independent she was initially. How anyone would stay with a man who threatens her with a lighted cigarette is beyond me. It's an absolute miracle that she was able to carry on painting whilst living with this insufferable person and although, as she admits, she learned so much from him and being a true artist herself she must have known how important it was. It was a veryinteresting and well written account of their lives together.

There are probably no better insights into this complex genius than those of the artist and model who shared Picasso's life for ten years when he was into his sixties. Many of his works are 'explained' in this book, as are his attitudes to life and his challenging conduct in relationships, both with women and with his fellow artists. A well-written and informative work - a 'must' for any enquiring mind with an admiration of Picasso.

This feels like a very honest account, and provides a lot of useful information about Picasso's working process and his general views on art. There are loads of fascinating anecdotes about his other lovers, friends, dealers, children, etc. It all rings very true, and I see that John Richardson has used quotes in his big bio of Picasso. Francoise Gilot herself comes across as very brave, down-to-earth and likeable. She's surprisingly objective and much less bitter than I would have expected.