Picasso Portfolio

Artist Lucien Clergue (French, 1934 - 2014)

Date1955-1971

MediumGelatin silver prints; 5 photographs, 1 reproduction of a Picasso drawing, plus title page, table of contents, colophon in portfolio case

ClassificationPhotographs

Credit LineGift of Dorothy M. Price

Object number

1988.22A-O

Not on View

Label TextThe French photographer Lucien Clergue, was born in 1934 in Arles, where he still makes his home. In 1956 Clergue visited the famous artist Picasso, then residing in southern France, to show him photographs and to seek his advice. Picasso's encouragement and guidance to Clergue at this early stage of his career was the beginning of a friendship that lasted until Picasso's death in 1973. During that time, Clergue had repeated opportunities to make informal photographic portraitsds of the great master artist; at home, in his studio, at the bullfights, on the beach, and among friends. In 1981, to mark the centennial celebration of Pi8casso's birth, Clergue made a selection of these portraits and compiled them into a portfolio, which is on display here. This portfolio is a 1988 gift to the Museum made possible by the kind generosity of Dorothy Price, A Museum member and docent of long standing. Clergue is perhaps most well known for his compelling and sensual photographs of the nude on the beach. His images are characterized by artfully composed undulations of human fgorm, sand, and surf. His recent work includes colorful photographs of urban details, such as marks on pavement, or glimpses of painted signs and automobiles. His work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and books, such as the recent 1985 monograph Eros and Tanatos. Besides doing his own work, Clergue has been very influential in promoting photography in France, especially through the annual Areles summer festival Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie, which Clergue founded and cont9inues to oversee.