About this Item
Picasso: Women Cannes and Mougins, 1954-1963; text by Hélène Parmelin, with a preface by Douglas Cooper; published by Editions Cercle D Art, S. A., Paris and Harry N. Abrams, N. V., Amsterdam, no date but 1964. Translated from the French by Humphrey Hare. Colorplates printed in France, text printed in Holland, book bound in West Germany. Picasso was very involved with the production of this book, creating the design for the cover of the books, special lettering contained in the text and drawing two original lithographs included in the book, one that is the art appearing on the dust jacket and the other is included with the posted photos. From the Preface in a letter to Bien Chère Hélène - When I put down your manuscript, it is with a feeling of gratitude and respect for the sincerity and honesty of your reporting, for the sensibility which gives you such a genuine insight into the fluctuating thoughts, emotions, and reactions which condition the conversation and behaviour of our friend Pablo Picasso. What appeals to me in your writings is the frankness and utter lack of pettiness with which you can recant all even the everyday banalities - that you have seen and heard. There is nothing of Importance that you have left out of your text, nothing included in it to which one could take exception. If people want to know what motivates Picasso s creative life in the studio, if they want a genuine insight into the connection between his art and life, if they are curious to know how he lives and talks, they cannot do better than read what you have written both here and in your earlier book Picasso Plain. Both are distinguished by a high degree of objective truth and no nonsense. Hélène Parmelin , real name Hélène Jungelson, 1915i-1998, was a French journalist, novelist and art critic . She wrote many books on Picasso. Arthur William Douglas Cooper, who also published as Douglas Lord (1911-1984) was a British art historian, art critic and art collector. He mainly collected Cubist works. He was involved with investigating who had dealt with stolen art during the war. After the war he bought a chateau and converted it into a gallery of early cubist art. After the Second World War, Cooper returned to England, but could not settle in his native country and moved to southern France, where in 1950 he bought the Château de Castille near Avignon, a suitable place to show his impressive art collection, which he continued to expand with newer artists such as Klee and Miró. During the following years, art historians, collectors, dealers, and artists flocked to his home which had become something of an epicenter of Cubism, very much to his pride. Léger and Picasso were regular guests; the latter even became a substantial part of its life. He regarded Picasso as the only genius of the 20th century, and he became a substantial promoter of the artist. Picasso tried several times to induce Cooper to sell his house to him; however, he would not agree and finally in 1958 recommended to Picasso the acquisition of Château of Vauvenargues. The high-quality colour illustrations are tipped in. This very large format book, 199 pages measuring 302mm X 275mm is in near-fine condition in a very-good dust jacket that is now in a protective mylar wrap. What keeps this book from being rated fine are two bookplates plus ownership signatures. Inside the front cover is the bookplate of the Biblioteka Polska Halifax-Dartmouth (Nova Scotia) and a crossed-out signature. On the back blank page facing the cover is another bookplate and the signature of the previous owner who was Polish. The book was issued with a tipped in, separately printed staple bound pamphlet, "Picasso: Women: Introductory Comments" by Milton S. Fox, inside the back cover and this is missing. The spine of both the book and the dust jacket has the typical library number taped on. The text, lithographs, and illustrations are in fine condition. This large and very heavy volume will require additional. Seller Inventory # 23105c
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Bibliographic Details
Title: Picasso: Women Cannes and Mougins, 1954-...
Publisher: Editions Cercle D Art, S. A., Paris and Harry N. Abrams, N. V., Amsterdam
Publication Date: 1964
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
