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In August 1946, Françoise Gilot and Pablo Picasso traveled to Golfe-Juan to visit Louis Fort, the engraver. They so enjoyed the quiet solitude of the beaches that they decided to stay, renting the upper floors of Fort's house. After securing an atelier at Chateau Grimaldi (Musee d'Antibes), Picasso and Gilot remained in the region returning intermittently to Paris through 1948.
Although both artists worked separately, they also collaborated on projects beginning with a drawing notebook. As Francoise Gilot stated:
"This was an ecstatic moment of perfect comprehension, an experience of nonverbal communication after which we knew that we were bound to explore art and roam the world together, eager to discover more in an unusual mano a mano. In mano a mano two artists work side by side, sharing the same challenge, the same ideal.." (in Françoise Gilot: The Early Years: 1940-55, exh. cat., The Elkon Gallery, Inc., New York, 1988, p. 13).
Their artistic collaboration can be seen here in Hibou necklace (lot ). Composed of found objects from the beaches of Golfe-Juan, the necklace combines Picasso's owl pendant with Francoise's assemblage of beads. Their dynamic coupling was captured by the photographer Robert Capa in a famous image (fig -) depicting Picasso holding an umbrella over his companion and Gilot proudly wearing the necklace they designed together. Lots - including a masque and ring composed of found objects and Portrait de Françoise, Picasso's beautiful rendering of his youthful companion, exemplify this exciting time where the two were living and working together.
©c Robert Capa ©c 2001 by Cornell Capa/Magnum Photos
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Portrait de Françoise
Details
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Portrait de Françoise
colored crayons on buff paper
3 7/8 x 2¼ in. (9.8 x 5.7 cm.)
Drawn in 1947
Portrait de Françoise
colored crayons on buff paper
3 7/8 x 2¼ in. (9.8 x 5.7 cm.)
Drawn in 1947
Provenance
Françoise Gilot, Paris (acquired from the artist).
Acquired from the above by the present owner, circa 1984.
Acquired from the above by the present owner, circa 1984.
Sale room notice
Please note that the photograph which accompanies the introductory essay to this lot is ©c Robert Capa ©c 2001 by Cornell Capa/Magnum Photos.