Meeting Picasso, 1950, by B. W. E.

From MemoryArchive

Who: B.W.E.
What: Beholding a Temporary Piece of Picasso's Artwork
When: 1950
Where: Picasso's waiting room, Paris, France

I almost owned a "Picasso". I was an American Junior-Year-Abroad student in Paris. I had a French beau who never failed to bring me little presents, bouquets of violets, or daffodils every time we met. He worked for a printing company that made beautiful posters. His job was to take the proofs to the artists for approval. On this particular day, he had to show Picasso a proof. Pierre was waiting in Picasso's crowded anteroom with many other people, salesmen,suppliers, agents, etc. After giving his name to the secretary, he waited and waited. Picasso was very fond of Pierre, and finally sent out to Pierre a kind of a "Danish" breakfast roll....but a very unique one. Picasso had moved the raisins and nuts around to create a unique cubistic face, a playful gesture of condolence for the long wait. The other people in the room saw it and cried "Bravo!" and urged Pierre to preserve this original " Picasso" forever, or give it to his girlfriend.You know what happened. Pierre ate it. And that's why I don't own a "Picasso."