MeMyselfandI: Photo Portraits of Picasso

by Pierre Daix, Pierre Daix (Text)

Pablo Picasso was one of the most frequently photographed celebrities of the last century. Virtually all of the great twentieth-century portraitists photographed him, including Cecil Beaton, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, Man Ray, Irving Penn and Lee Miller. Photo Portraits of Picasso gathers these portraits for the first time, examining the often tense relationship between Picasso’s control of his public persona and the intentions of the photographers. Ranging from classic staged sittings--some commissioned by Picasso himself--to more spontaneous snapshots, the portraits in this volume are a record of the artist’s sustained, lifelong construction of his public identity. Other photographers included are Rogi André, Richard Avedon, Bill Brandt, Brassaï, René Burri, Robert Capa, Lucien Clergue, Jean Cocteau, Denise Colomb, David Douglas Duncan, Jaques-Henri Lartigue, Herbert List, Dora Maar, Madame d'Ora, Willy Maywald, Gjon Mili, Inge Morath, Arnold Newman, Roberto Otero, Edward Quinn, Gotthard Schuh, Michel Sima and André Villiers.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2012

Reviews

[Moira Macfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book doesn't have much of a story to tell, not in words that is. It is a book full of photographs of Picasso taken by a few of the best photographers. It makes quite a beautiful overview in pictures and well the man ìs photogenic.

[Norberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normalmente no me acerco a libros de fotografía, pero sin duda Picasso era un buen pretexto para adentrarme a ese mundo.
Este libro es una recopilación de la estrecha relación que conservó Picasso con el mundo de la fotografía (aunque también tenía una estrecha relación con el mundo de los escritores, pero esa es otra historia). En este libro se cuenta a través de las imágenes al pequeño Pablo, hasta el maduro Picasso, respetando mucho su figura, pero mostrando vertientes inimaginables para un genio de su talla.
Sin duda el material gráfico es excelso y muy bien seleccionado, con un amplio predominio por la foto en blanco y negro, y algunas recientes en color; tomas y planos de todos tipos, clásicos y arriesgados, con poses de estudio y capturas espontaneas de la vida cotidiana.
Pero también se detalla la relación de Picasso con cada fotógrafo, que por cierto incluyó a gente también de lo mas variada, con muchos de ellos existió primordialmente una relación personal que se permea en el trabajo fotográfico, particularmente en la serie final de autoretratos.
Un libro digno, lleno de historia y trabajo estético que engalana al genio de Pablo Picasso.

[Kimmo Sinivuori · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I've discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I've nothing else to learn!" Picasso is said to have said in 1910 while smoking hashish.
Everybody knew Picasso and Picasso knew everybody who was anybody in the 20th Century art world. Many of those who Picasso knew were great photographers. It is evident from this wonderful book of collected photographs of the great artist that Picasso liked to have his photograph taken. He is very much at ease in front of the camera whether posing or working.
The list of photographers whose photographs are featured in this book is impressive. There are photos of Picasso by Jean Cocteau, Robert Capa, Lartique, Cecil Beaton, Cartier-Bresson and the one and only Lee Miller, among numerous others.
Miller photographed Picasso for over 36 years from the first time they met in Paris in 1936 until Picasso's death in 1973. Not only was Miller the coolest modernist woman but she was also a truly great photographer. Even today it is difficult not to be moved by Miller's photo of her and Picasso taken in 1944 right after the liberation of Paris where they meet for the first time since the war started. The photo shows a meeting of equals and it is filled with emotion. There is also a great picture of a middle aged Miller taken by Picasso in 1960 that shows a calm side of the great lady.
Other highlights of the book are the photos taken by Robert Capa with the image of Picasso holding a parasol over Francoise Gilot on the beach from 1948 being one of the most iconic artists photographs of all time. The series of photos by Edward Quinn showing Picasso posing with hats and caps from his collection are hilarious and show the comic side of Picasso.
Then there is Jean Cocteau being fed Picasso in Vallauris in 1955 taken by Lartique. A intimate photo showing two great artists who had been friends for almost half a century at that point. Historically the most interesting set of photos in the book are by Cocteau who spend an August afternoon in Paris in 1916 with Picasso and other pivotal artists of the early 20th Century. One could spend hours watching the picture of Amedeo Modigliani laughing at the antics of Picasso.
Pablo Picasso never got called on asshole, not in New York and not in this household. Great man, great book.