Loving Picasso: The Private Journal of Fernande Olivier

by Fernande Olivier

Fernande Olivier was the first real love in the life of Pablo Picasso, and the years she spent with the great artist, 1904 to 1912, coincide with the period of some of his most revolutionary work. Here, in her compelling and revelatory journal, published for the first time in English, Olivier vividly depicts her turbulent relationship with Picasso and, in her letters to Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, and Guillaume Apollinaire, sheds new light on the Parisian art scene of the early 20th century.

Loving Picasso brings Olivier's memoirs to life with archival photographs, reproductions of her own artwork, paintings for which she modeled before she met Picasso, and a selection of superb portraits of her by Picasso himself. A foreword and notes by Picasso scholar Marilyn McCully set the journal and letters in context, and an epilogue by distinguished art historian and Picasso biographer John Richardson tells the story of Olivier's life after her final breakup with Picasso.

Author Biography: Marilyn McCully has published many books and articles on Picasso, and has organized exhibitions of the artist's work, most recently "Picasso: Painter and Sculptor in Clay" at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She lives in London.

John Richardson is a noted authority on Picasso's life and work. He is currently working on the third volume of his acclaimed biography of the artist, A Life of Picasso. He lives in New York City.

Genres: Art, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction, History

296 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Veronica]

After watching the Television show Genius: Picasso, I caught Picasso fever and became obsessed. I was even more intrigued perhaps with La Belle Fernande and read through this book quickly. I found it so interesting to read about the bohemian lifestyle, avante-garde movement, and of course the friendships inspired by humour, intellectualism, and passion for art. I have to say that it was a bit tedious reading Fernande’s descriptions of what people were wearing or how the furniture in a room appeared, but it was definitely worth it for the “private” look into the lives of her, Picasso, and all of the other artists in their company!

[Sharyle]

Fascinating first person account of Fernande's tumultuous youth and years as Picasso's lover and what it was like to live in the artistic community in Paris in the early 1900s. It was wonderful to hear the story in her own words. You really get a sense of who she was and what it was like to live with Picasso.

[Jean]

Fernande Olivier, Picasso’s first love, spent seven years with him in the early 1900’s. She was an artist's model, an avid reader and kept a journal from age 15. In this translation of her journal from the French, Fernande describes the Bohemian lifestyle of Paris at the time, the revolutionary nature of Picasso's work and his quick progression from an impoverished artist to a successful one. Fernande was a supportive and appreciative presence in Picasso's life, but he judged her an unsuitable marriage partner and abandoned her.

[Colleen Curran]

This was wonderful. My painter father-in-law gave it to me and I loved it. It was raw, honest, completely unique. An authentic voice telling a real and true story as honestly as she could. Remarkable. A great love story, art story, and falling apart story.

[Maria Catherino]

A very intimate portrayal of Picasso. A huge boon to art history.

[Henry]

Fascinating!

[Leslie Clark]

Strained family accounts of loving an inaccessible man. Picasso is portrayed as a successful artist and provider, yet mostly absent emotionally and physically.

[Yesica Aguirre]

She was pretty much selfish to be loved by a genius like Picasso! Even so she was one of his favorite muses and first real love!

[Sally Anne]

TERRIFIC! Absolutely recommended.