Conversations with Picasso

Amazon.com

Henry Miller called Brassaï (born Gyula Halasz) "The Eye of Paris." As a photographer, journalist, and author of photographic monographs and literary criticism, he had an uncanny ability to capture the Paris art world of the mid-20th century. Conversations with Picasso, originally published in 1964, is a collection of Brassaï's memoirs, resurrected from scraps of paper he stored in a huge vase each night after his talks with the famous Spanish painter, whose work he photographed from 1932 to 1962. In keeping with the lively bohemian spirit that so characterized Pablo Picasso's milieu, Brassaï wrote these notes in a vivid, conversational style, and they are now vignettes, of a sort, from a theatrical time capsule. Presented alongside the actual photographs he took during his visits with Picasso, Brassaï's anecdotes of the artist and his most intimate associates paint an unforgettable portrait of Picasso the master artist and the man. Sly humor and telling details embellish these accounts--in one particularly well-rendered scene, Picasso throws a temper tantrum over a lost flashlight--that vividly depict many of the artist's creative revelations, his insatiable curiosity, and his views on the art of his time, including that of the surrealists. One very strong image depicts Picasso, with brush in hand, using a palette made of newspaper. Confiscated by military censors due to the mere presence of World War II headlines, this photo represents one of the many wartime frustrations Picasso endured, including using a bathroom for a studio and secretly casting sculptures in scarce bronze at night. Underneath the worshipful posturing so prevalent in writings of the time, in which an everyday shopping list of paint colors is hailed as a prose poem, Brassaï offers an intimate chronicle full of loving detail of the impossible yet delightful enfant terrible. Entertaining, charming, light but truly satisfying fare. --A.C. Smith

Book Description

"Read this book if you want to understand me."—Pablo Picasso

Conversations with Picasso offers a remarkable vision of both Picasso and the entire artistic and intellectual milieu of wartime Paris, a vision provided by the gifted photographer and prolific author who spent the early portion of the 1940s photographing Picasso's work. Brassaï carefully and affectionately records each of his meetings and appointments with the great artist, building along the way a work of remarkable depth, intimate perspective, and great importance to anyone who truly wishes to understand Picasso and his world.

Customer Reviews:

An all time favorite and reference..........2006-09-30

I love this book... I am a huge Picasso fan. Enough said.

A Revealing View of a Great Genius.......2004-01-15

To dismiss this wonderfully acute book as light because it is anecdotal would be a serious error. Brassai not only knew Picasso when; he was also an artist whom Picasso admired. Brassai's is a privileged vision, and he notes Picasso's many foibles--some of them large--as well as many of his strengths as artist and person. Until I read this book, I was unaware of just how selfishly Picasso treated even those he considered friends and lovers. But, in reading Brassai, I also learned that Picasso was intellectually voracious, a man who read an entire box of demanding books each week--on top of his work as an artist and his assiduous, but very often misconceived, efforts to be a husband and father. The only other writers who knew Picasso as well as Brassai are quite probably Fernande Olivier (earlier) and John Richardson (later). Richardson writes much more elegantly than Brassai (even if you read Brassai in the original French)--and Richardson's excellent ongoing three-volume biography of Picasso is turning out to be the gold standard--but he is no more perceptive than Brassai. For the best view of the younger Picasso on the make in Paris, I'd go with Brassai. If you want to "know" Picasso, Brassai is a must-read.

The Inner Sanctum; not quite........2000-08-04

This book is written as it has been culled from Brassai's personal journal and notes over a period of almost fifty years.

It reads more like a compendium of valuable snippets and insights rather than as a continuous narrative. Brassai as a photographer met Picasso in Paris and was invited by the painter to take some photographs of his work. Most of these photographs were actually of Picasso's small (and not so small) recent sculptures. It was common practice for all sorts of artists at that time(and earlier) to have professional photographs taken of their output so they could see their creations from a different, more removed perspective (vanity?). Picasso was certainly no different.

Picasso himself was an avid amateur photographer and as John Richardson has pointed out in his excellent Picasso Bio. he was not merely content to paint the paintings he also tried to somehow install himself in his pictures via self portaits with various paintings as backgrounds. The camera had become an instrument of magic tele-kinesis.

Brassai's notes show us how enthusiastic Picasso was about his new friend's talents in portraying Picasso's sculptures as if new. Brassai goes on to render much detail of the retinue of followers and sycophants that daily alighted on Picasso's doorstep in Rue Grand Augustin during those mostly war years. One sees completely how it was none other than Picasso himself who craved such fawning even if he did ignore most of their attentions.

It is obvious that Brassai wished to cause no offence with this publication as he discounts all of Picasso's nasty foibles as necessary bohemian artistic exigencies.

The book is full of wonderful photographs of the characters that came into contact with the great man as well as various photos of Picasso's studio, output and abundant clutter.

There is even a complete listing of Picasso's paint requirements. I found that fascinating. One is reminded of Marcel Duchamp's comments that all paintings are really the same in as much as they all start out as a given colour range of tubes of oil paint.

There is little humanity in the observations and maybe that is no bad thing. Picasso and Sabartes are portrayed as two scheming nuncios whose Catalan dialect was the spoken code of choice. Much is given to calcuation of Picasso's position with Byzantine nuance and deliberation. Should he sign this picture? Should he see that dealer?

Overall, a valuable addition to the ouevre on Picasso and a book that can easily be dipped into from time to time.

A must for Picasso fans.......1999-11-26

This is quite simply a wonderful book, and a splendid new translation of a great classic about the Paris art world during the 30s and 40s. Brassai was a witty, wry observer of Paris life and an excellent writer as well as photographer. The episodes he captures of Picasso's life are irreplaceable, often hysterical--and not recounted in other, stuffier books on the great modern artist. Highly recommended for art lovers. A pleasure to read

Average customer rating:

Conversations with Picasso
Jane Marie Todd
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OP219E

Average customer rating:

Conversations with Picasso
Jane Marie Brassai; Todd
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OP20Z4

Conversations with Picasso. Translated By Jane Marie Todd from Conversations Avec Picasso.

Average customer rating:

Conversations with Picasso. Translated By Jane Marie Todd from Conversations Avec Picasso.
Gilberte Brassai
Manufacturer: University of Chicago Press, 1999
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TN56D4

Average customer rating:

Very useful

Fabulous!

Easy and powerful

Practical way to learn to dance

No way to learn to dance

Tango : The Structure of the Dance level 1/ Multimedia Extended Version
Mauricio Castro
Manufacturer: Tango Discovery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

Popular | Dance | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Tango | Dance | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Tango Discovery Series, Men's Technique (Tango Discovery Series)

Tango Awareness

Tango: The Structure of the Dance Vol.2

The Tao of Tango

Tango: The Structure of the Dance Vol.1

ASIN: 9874328118

Book Description

Combining "Tango, the Structure of the Dance® & Tango Discovery®", Mauricio Castro's latest discoveries in the field of tango development, the success exercises that he has been teaching in Tango seminars and his applications in the movement technique arena, "Tango, the Structure of the Dance® level 1/extended version", provides new insights into the dancing process.

Mauricio's genius and in-depth understanding of how the brain works and how we use our communicating processes to generate movement unconsciously stand out on their own and speak for themselves. Mauricio's success in tango is solidly based on his unique ability to present seemingly complex issues simply.

With live video, animated sequences and a test !

Minimum Requeriments / Requerimientos Mínimos PC: Pentium with 100Mhz processor and 32 MB of RAM/ Monitor SVGA / CD-Rom 16X / Windows 95® or better / Microsoft® Internet Explorerr4 or better, or Netscape Navigator4 or better / Quicktime® 4 or better. Macintosh: Power Mac 100 Mhz processor 32MB of RAM / CD-Rom 16X / Mac OS 8.1 or better / Microsoft® Internet Explorer4 or better, Netscape Navigator4 or better / Quicktime 4 or better.

Customer Reviews:

Very useful.......2004-03-25

I am glad I've found this CD Rom. I've been learning tango for a long time, and finally I have found a system that makes sense to me.

Fabulous!.......2003-02-12

The section that I love the most is the 40 video secuences danced by Mauricio Castro and Carla Marano, where you can see
these two marvelous dancers in action.

Easy and powerful.......2003-02-05

As I stared to watch the videos and the animations, all the explanations came to my help. So now I can easily do a lot more than before.

The first part is good, and it has all the sense in the world when you finish to see all videos, cause then you realize the whole concept.

Practical way to learn to dance.......2002-12-08

It is amazing how easy it is to improve your dancing by watching the videos and the explanations, cause then when you go to practice, you know what to do and what you are looking for in the exercises.

No way to learn to dance.......2002-11-20

I tried it, but it was no use. How can anyone improve their dancing by reading a book or watching a CD? Maybe it has some useful concepts, but I don't see any practical applications. I'd rather read a book about history of tango or about some famous tango dancers or composers, but when it comes to dancing, I would rather take classes with good teachers.

Tango Discovery Series, Sacadas Vol. 1 (Tango Discovery Series)

Average customer rating:

Great...

Tango Discovery Series, Sacadas Vol. 1 (Tango Discovery Series)
Mauricio Castro
Manufacturer: Tango Discovery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 9874346019

Book Description

Complete with video and animated sequences!

The intriguing tango movement known as the sacada has held the fascination of many tango dancers around the world. With videos, descriptions and explanations, you'll find this CD-Rom an excellent companion. Sacadas, Vol. 1 provides extensive instruction for both the improvisation and choreography of this striking dance embellishment.

Want to develop your tango skills in a fun and accelerated way? Let Tango Discovery assist you in performing sacadas with ease.

Tango Discovery has prepared the most extensive series available for today's tango dancer and tango instructor.

Are you ready to discover tango?

Tango Discovery provides extensive training for tango dancers at all levels of proficiency. Anyone can achieve success and advancement through this series of books, CD-Roms, training workshops and certification.

Customer Reviews:

Great..........2002-09-21

What can I say... is well design, great method, videos are nice, and it is part of a complete method of understanding the dance.
What makes it superb.

Tango Discovery Series: Boleos Vol.1 (Tango Discovery Series)

Average customer rating:

A must to have
Superb!

Tango Discovery Series: Boleos Vol.1 (Tango Discovery Series)
Mauricio Castro
Manufacturer: Tango Discovery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 9874333812

Book Description

Complete with video and animated sequences!

The intriguing tango movement known as the boleo has held the fascination of many tango dancers around the world. With videos, descriptions and explanations, you'll find this CD-Rom an excellent companion. Boleos, Vol. 1 provides extensive instruction for both the improvisation and choreography of this striking dance embellishment.

Want to develop your tango skills in a fun and accelerated way? Let Tango Discovery assist you in performing boleos with ease.

Tango Discovery have prepared the most extensive series available for today's tango dancer and tango instructor. More information is available online

Are you ready to discover tango?

Customer Reviews:

A must to have.......2001-08-03

The videos are very well thought and the explanations that come with them are very enlightening. I'm just starting to dance and I found it very useful.

Superb!.......2001-08-02

I found this material to be just what I was looking for. Strait, simple and to the point. Now I understand boleos in a deeper way than in any other class I have taken so far.

Average customer rating:

Tango - Con 1 CD
Aldo Sessa
Manufacturer: Sessa Editores
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Tango Discovery Series, Ganchos vol. 1 (Tango Discovery Series)

Average customer rating:

I highly recommend the CD Rom
Exelent videos !!

Tango Discovery Series, Ganchos vol. 1 (Tango Discovery Series)
Mauricio Castro
Manufacturer: Tango Discovery
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 9874336951

Book Description

Complete with video and animated sequences!

The intriguing tango movement known as the gancho has held the fascination of many tango dancers around the world. With videos, descriptions and explanations, you'll find this CD-Rom an excellent companion. Ganchos, Vol. 1 provides extensive instruction for both the improvisation and choreography of this striking dance embellishment. Are you ready to discover tango?

Want to develop your tango skills in a fun and accelerated way? Let Tango Discovery assist you in performing ganchos with ease.

Tango Discovery has prepared the most extensive series available for today's tango dancer and tango instructor. More information is available online

Minimum Requeriments / Requerimientos Mínimos PC: Pentium with 100Mhz processor and 32 MB of RAM/ Monitor SVGA / CD-Rom 16X / Windows 95(r) or better / Microsoft(r) Internet Explorerr4 or better, or Netscape Navigator4 or better / Quicktime(r) 4 or better. Macintosh: Power Mac 100 Mhz processor 32MB of RAM / CD-Rom 16X / Mac OS 8.1 or better / Microsoft(r) Internet Explorer4 or better, Netscape Navigator4 or better / Quicktime 4 or better.

Customer Reviews:

I highly recommend the CD Rom.......2001-10-14

I highly recommend the CD Rom to any tango fan. If you are a more recent dancer, it will be interesting for you to see the dancing and exercises on the videos. But if you've been around awhile, you'll be blown away with all the info and resources you'll find.
Congratulations Mauricio!

Exelent videos !!.......2001-10-06

Exelent videos !! It is exactely what I was looking for. I wanted to learn ganchos and just that!

Average customer rating:

Buenos Aires Tango Vol 1
Various Cdmsim 297799
Manufacturer: MSI MUSIC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Books on CD | Formats | Books
ASIN: 6309019058

Average customer rating:

Grandes Del Tango Vol 1-Instrumental
Va-Tango Cdcbsi 16036
Manufacturer: SONY DISCOS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Books on CD | Formats | Books
ASIN: 630597313X

Average customer rating:

Los Maximos Del Tango Vol. 1
Hector Cdcbsi 16188 Va-Varela
Manufacturer: SONY DISCOS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Books on CD | Formats | Books
ASIN: 6306625313

Tango : Du noir au blanc (1 livre + 1 CD audio)

Average customer rating:

Tango : Du noir au blanc (1 livre + 1 CD audio)
Michel Plisson
Manufacturer: Actes Sud
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Books on CD | Formats | Books
ASIN: 2742731911

Average customer rating:

Tango Argentino Vol.1
Aldo E LA Su Cdmusr 726922 Maletti
Manufacturer: MUSICRAMA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Books on CD | Formats | Books
ASIN: 6306705651

Book Description

Finally, there's a book that's almost as much fun as having a couple of drinks. Alcoholica Esoterica presents the history and culture of booze as told by a writer with a knack for distilling all the boring bits into the most interesting facts and hilarious tales. It's almost like pulling up a stool next to the smartest and funniest guy in the bar. Divided into chapters covering the basic booze groups—including beer, wine, Champagne, whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, and tequila—Alcoholica Esoterica charts the origin and rise of each alcohol's particular charms and influence. Other sections chronicle “Great Moments in Hic-story,” “Great Country Drinking Songs,” “10 Odd Laws,” and “Mt. Lushmore, Parts I-V.” Additionally, famous quotes on the joys and sorrows of liquor offer useful shots of advice and intoxicating whimsy.

Did you know...
• that the word bar is short for barrier? Yes, that's right—to keep the customers from getting at all the booze.
• that Winston Churchill's mother supposedly invented the Manhattan?
• that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because the sailors on the Mayflower were running low on beer and were tired of sharing?
• that you have a higher chance of being killed by a flying Champagne cork than by a poisonous spider?
• that the Code of Hammurabi mandated that brewers of low-quality beer be drowned in it?
• that beer was so popular with medieval priests and monks that in the thirteenth century they stopped baptizing babies with holy water and started using beer?

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining and Offbeat book.......2007-01-11

My husband is a wine writer for our local newspaper so I purchased this book for him. He liked the book so much that he did a side-bar to his last article with the following review:

More than just a book about wine this is "a collection of useful and useless information as it relates to the history and consumption of all manner of booze." There is a remarkable amount of information packed into this entertaining and offbeat book. You're likely to find yourself reading it two or three times because it is impossible to remember all the frivolous and factual trivia Lender offers up. For example, an Italian café owner created the beverage Compari in 1860 but it became wildly popular in the U.S. during Prohibition where it was considered a digestive bitter, not alcohol. It just happened to be 48 proof.

Hysterical and informative........2006-11-10

If you like to tip a few here and there (and who doesn't?)this is a great read with pieces of trivia that you need as someone who enjoys a drink or three. It's not a novel so you can pick it up and put it down-even if you only have a minute.

Enjoy the book and dazzle your friends with your knowledge of a pastime that you are sharing.

5 stars!

A must-read!.......2006-02-22

Lendler has crafted a simple yet engaging book on the history and peculiarities of just about every alcohol type we know -- he peppers his succinct and interesting descriptions of the beverages' histories with a rapier wit in a conversation-like tone (e.g. he writes out the word "Natch" in place of "Naturally"). It is a fun book to read.

This is a must-read for anyone with a passing interest in any particular genre of alcohol, or for anyone who just enjoys good reading.

Entertaining and Informative.......2006-02-01

A very interesting book of facts relating to booze! A sure hit for all bartenders and trivia seekers. I gave my copy to a cousin who owns a bar in Hunter, Texas. Gotta replace it so I can impress fellow patrons with my knowlege of the spirits.

Interesting, fun read.......2006-01-13

This book has been a treat to read. The author knows his, uh, booze. Lots of interesting facts about every kind of booze imaginable - wine, beer, whiskey, vodka, etc. Wow your friends at your next happy hour!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books