Picasso was a genius—and a beast. Can the two be separated?
It’s the wrong question to ask, says “Monsters”, a provocative new book by Claire Dederer
Look closely at “Woman with a Yellow Necklace” (pictured below), a painting by Pablo Picasso of 1946. The woman is Françoise Gilot, his partner at the time. Notice, in particular, what appears to be a Marilyn-esque beauty spot on the figure’s left cheek. That mark is said to represent a cigarette burn, seared onto the sitter’s face during a row with the artist.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Picasso’s stain”
Culture
April 8th 2023
From the April 8th 2023 edition
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