Books in the Life of Picasso series

Drawing on exhaustive research from interviews and unpublished archival material, John Richardson has produced the long-awaited third volume of the definitive biography, full of original, groundbreaking new insights into Picasso's life and work.

The author introduces material on the artist's early training in religious art, and establishes his passion for Barcelona and Catalan "modernisme". There are also portraits of Apollinaire, Max Jacob and Gertrude Stein who made up "The Picasso Gang". The book won the 1991 Whitbread biography award.

The first volume of this biography emphasized Picasso's Spanish roots from Malaga to Barcelona. This second volume covers ten pivotal years of Picasso's life. It describes his relationship with Cocteau, his affair with Fernande Olivier, and the influence of women on his art.