Picasso

1966 · rif. 112218 — Cannes 1966. Unpublished and heavily corrected manuscript of Brassai's account of his visit to Picasso A superb unpublished and heavily corrected manuscript in French in which Brassaï recounts a visit to Picasso a long-standing friend at his home near Cannes. Brassaï who photographed much of Picasso's work in the 1940s published Conversations with Picasso in 1964 creating an intimate portrait of the artist through an account of their friendship and artistic collaboration and recording each of their meetings in minute detail. Picasso said of the volume "Read this book if you want to understand me." Written in a similar style this account records an afternoon during which Picasso speaks about his nostalgia for his former studios his health his enthusiasm for the recently invented felt-tip pen his opinion of his own writings his relationship with his wife Jacqueline and his views on feminism. Though unmarked as such the manuscript comes from the collection of Brassaï's close friend and colleague the photographer Stefan Lorant founder of Picture Post the pioneering pictorial magazine. Quarto 285 x 233. 20 typed sheets in French rectos only legibly hand-corrected throughout by Brassai in black ink. Housed in a black cloth album with each sheet in a separate clear plastic file. In excellent condition the final page a little creased and with minor loss to right-hand side affecting one letter. Overall fresh and clean. hardcover