13 Days in the Life of Picasso

This excellent estimation of Pablo Picasso's life and career uses key moments in the artist's life to chart the course of his art, offering a sumptuous collection of Picasso's paintings and sculptures, as well as a look at a remarkable number of his drawings and sketches. Interviews with Picasso, Parisian friends, and his daughter Maya add perspective to the narrative, as do excerpts from his diary and his letters. Maya, who is quite animated, is particularly engrossing as she recalls how her father used to work in his studio. Viewers are taken through Picasso's adventures in Cubism, as well as his Blue and Rose periods, all illustrated by pivotal works, such as Guernica and Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. As was the case throughout his life and art, women figure prominently. Picasso acknowledged women as a constant source of inspiration (he had several wives and companions, though it always seemed as if the next great love was just around the corner. A fine examination of Picasso's life and art, 13 Days in the Life of Picasso does feature a few explicit drawings (including depictions of oral sex), in addition to some graphic language, making it unsuitable for curriculum use in high school settings. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (P. Van Vleck)