finale on the Gilot book

That was one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read: interesting subject (Picasso), interesting observer (Gilot).

Most of the prominent anecdotes center on Picasso’s terrible behavior towards pretty much everyone. But what will really stick with me from the book is how surprisingly articulate Picasso was about his own art. He speaks quite often like a world-class critic. Some of the lines attributed to him in this book are some of the sharpest remarks about art I’ve ever heard.

Gilot’s thesis, perhaps too ungenerous, is that Picasso learned all these words about his own work through his many literary friendships. I wouldn’t go that far. He was clearly capable of spontaneous reactions as well. I wouldn’t have expected him to be quite this articulate about his craft. It’s fairly breathtaking sometimes.