Picasso Bon Vivant [Hardcover]

Ermine Herscher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1996

Pablo Picasso's love of food profoundly affected his life and art. Picasso Bon Vivant tells the stories behind the artist's favorite meals in Spain, Paris, and the Midi. The regional fare of cafes and bars, and the elaborate dinners prepared by his wives and friends find their way into this fascinating account that includes 50 recipes. 140 illustrations, 40 in color.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

An unexpected collusion of sorts with the recent release of the movie Surviving Picasso (starring Anthony Hopkins) is French journalist Herscher's portrait of the artist as a gourmand. Despite the title, she tracks Picasso's life, warts and all, in three geographic segments--Spain, Paris, and the Midi--without an overt emphasis on food. Friendships, artistic growth, and romantic liaisons are the main courses; if capped by memories and notes on meals, so much the better. Familiar names--Apollinaire, the Steins, Cocteau, et al.--and familiar works parade through this heavily illustrated reverie. And so do more than 50 recipes, all symbolic of the artist's ties to three locales. A feast for the eyes but not necessarily for the stomach. Barbara Jacobs

Review

It's difficult to classify this title: part cookbook and part art history, this uses artist Picasso's love of food to examine how his passion affected his life and art. Stories behind the author's favorite meals pair over 50 recipes which numerous photos and drawings presenting his art and artistic associations. The result's an appealing title on many levels, going beyond the usual art history to provide more than a touch of the personal. -- Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (September 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847819698
• ISBN-13: 978-0847819690
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #772,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eating Beauty: Picasso's Gourmet Fish and Recipes, August 1, 2001

By 

Sarah Marx (Chicago/ Lake Michigan Dunes Region) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Picasso Bon Vivant (Hardcover)

This is a well-illustrated account of Picasso's loves in terms of fish dishes and friends. Some good history of Picasso's life, places he lived, and locations in Spain and France. Most Picasso lovers (except the lovers he dined with) don't know that he painted FISH, --fat, lovely, blue fish, around ceramic plates, a primitively suggestive version of the effective style used later in the DINNER PARTY by feminist artist Judy Chicago. Picasso's fish have inspired the integration of visual arts with performance arts in some children's "integrated arts" programs, with cut out glow in the dark fish we call "Picasso Fish." Art teachers and art lovers, take note: lots of good recipes here!