The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: Picasso, Provence and Douglas Cooper
Customer Review: Insightful, Amusing and Repugnant
Looking for a biography of Picasso, I came across this: A memoir of life in 1950’s Provence with collector Douglass Cooper, the said artist, and his clique. The first section merely a stuffing of self-indulgence and bitchy anecdotes about the art world, Richardson has centred the final part of the book on Picasso - the only point of interest here - who was at this time towards the end of his life. Thus, after 200 pages of solid irrelevance and voyeurism, I was bored and ready to stop reading, remembering that I hate memoirs. The Picasso chapters approaching I read on and was rewarded; for the memoirieness subsides under a painful end-of-epoch feeling as Richardson, his style becoming less rigid, constructs an intimate profile of Picasso, detailing his labyrinthine relationships with Dora Maar and Jacqueline Roque. Insightful: It’s almost tragic and almost worthwhile. I got what I had wanted and astounded myself at enjoying such a vulgar, decadent book.
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Picasso: v. 1 & 2 (Taschen Jumbo Series) Customer Review: Excellent value
(A review of the papeback editon)
The two volume book is arranged in seventeen chapters concluding with a considerable Chronology illustrated with numerous black and white pictures, mostly photographs with many of the artist, Notes, a Bibliography which includes exhibition catalogues, and a rather brief (one page) Index of Names.
The opening Chapter reminds us of the stature of the man, and of his prodigious output; briefly summarising his career. The subsequent Chapters chronicle Picasso’s progress starting with his childhood efforts, through the Blue and Rose Periods, Cubism, “Guernica” to mention just a few and concluding with “The Legend of the Artist”. It is intelligently written, accessible and makes very interesting reading. The illustrations run with the text and are usually within a page or two of the relevant reference.
Produced in two paperback volumes in a cardboard slipcase Taschen’s 25 anniversary edition is an impressive effort. It is superbly illustrated throughout with approaching 1,500 images mainly in colour but with a few back and white (usually drawings or photographs). The smallest pictures are just thumbnails, the largest full page and the occasional double page spread, with every size between; but there are plenty of good sized pictures with whole sections of colour plates, it certainly makes an impressive array. Overall the pictures far outweigh the text.
At such good value for money it is hard to be critical of this two volume set, but I fear I have two concerns. Firstly the Index seems wholly inadequate, an Index of Names which amounts to one page; finding a particular painting or anything else might prove difficult. Secondly, while the two volumes come protected in a slipcase, the card covers (paperback edition) to the individual volumes feel very slight; with each approaching 400 pages one feels one has to handle them with great care for fear of damaging the binding. It is however a very worthwhile set, one would be hard pressed to find so many reproductions of Picasso’s work elsewhere for the money,
and would not hesitate to recommend it.
Customer Review: A 'Must Have' book for Picasso lovers.
A must have for anyone really. Lovely cover, big print, easy to get around and absorb. Educational for those who are not familiar with his work. Now a classic really for it refers to last rather than this century.
YouTube - Pablo Picasso
Bienal - Special guests - Pablo Picasso
Customer Review: Lovely book with an engaging true story
• Seat WxDxH: 470×550x450mm• Backrest Height: 360mm• Chairs - pack of 4• Beech