Art and Lovers
Did you see the Charlie Rose (TV) interview when he was talking with Picasso’s companion, Francoise Gilot? She is lively and was a talented artist before moving in with him. They had a ten-year relationship from 1943 – 1953. Pablo Picasso had already had three wives or mistresses. She lived with him for three years.
It was chilling to hear her say she knew she must take up as little space as possible. She felt that the materials needed for painting in oil would have caused a problem. Therefore, she adapted her art to do only drawings. Working on papr she could put the studies in a drawer out of sight.
I wondered if he would have seen her as a competitor. They did, she said coyly, share a passionate relationship.
The occasion for this interview was to describe the works by Picasso and Francoise now being shown at the Gagosian Gallery in NYC. This exhibit is an opportunity to see the varied works of Picasso and hers, produced during their relationship. She explained how his work developed during that period and what her works meant.
Who knew?
The interviews by Rose are always done in a relaxed manner which hide the thoughtful efforts of preparation. It is interesting to see the women artists getting their due. Artworks from the exhibit are on the gallery website.
http://www.gagosian.com/current
Personal Note
Some of Picasso’s ceramics are in this show. They are more like small statues. (We were able to find the Picasso Museum in Paris, France located in a small villa. No one we spoke to knew exactly where it was. Determination and luck found us at a courtyard with a few buildings. Inside were some of his less famous works, including painted plates and small figurative ceramics. His inventiveness carried over into any materials he used.)
Related articles
- Picasso and Françoise Gilot Exhibit in NYC (daydreamtourist.com)
- Art Review: ‘Picasso and Françoise Gilot,’ at Gagosian (nytimes.com)
- Pablo Picasso and Francoise Gilot, Beach Boys, **FREE** Croquet Lessons, Trinkets and Treasures at The Frick, Ragtime, Police Museum May 8, 2012 (socialeyesnyc.wordpress.com)
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