This book is a first edition copy of "Life with Picasso," a candid memoir by Françoise Gilot and Carlton Lake, published by McGraw-Hill in 1964.

Book Overview

The memoir provides an intimate and revealing portrait of Pablo Picasso, covering the decade (1943–1953) Gilot spent as his partner, model, and intellectual equal. Gilot, an accomplished artist herself, offers a unique perspective on Picasso’s complex personality, artistic genius, and volatile moods.

Content: The book chronicles their first meeting in occupied Paris, their life together in the south of France, and the births of their two children, Claude and Paloma. It also features insights into other famous figures of the era, including Matisse, Braque, and Gertrude Stein.

Controversy: Upon its release, Picasso famously filed three unsuccessful lawsuits to block its publication. The book’s frankness led Picasso to break off all contact with Gilot and their children for the rest of his life.

Legacy: Today, "Life with Picasso" is celebrated as a classic of art history and a powerful account of a woman asserting her independence from a legendary, yet challenging, figure.