Picasso Hardcover – November 17, 2009

I call this "The Coffee Table Picasso" because it could, actually, be used as a table by merely attaching legs. This may seem like a criticism, but it isn't. The only inconvenience in reading this book is the enormous size and weight. That said, the reproductions are superb! As a painter, I appreciate excellent reproductions not often found in many pricy art books. It is no exaggeration to say I can "pour over" this book. The book arrived quicker than I expected and in pristine condition. There are probably more books about Picasso than any other artist and this one is a welcome addition to the John Richardson multi-volume set (all from Amazon). If you are a fan of Pablo Picasso, or even if you need a surface to support your LCD TV set, get this book.

I concur with the first reviewer of this amazing Picasso book. Yes, there are literally hundreds of books on the Spanish master, some bad, some very good but if you are looking for an all-in-one, quality, comprehensive monograph this latest Monacelli publication will do it. The text is accessible and the pictures well-chosen and irreprochably reproduced. Yes, yes, it is a huge, heavy book and quite expensive but it is all well worth it. This is the kind of book you'll be happy you bought 30 or 40 years from now.

Bought as a present for my mum for her birthday. She loved it!! It's a very large heavy book, beautifully presented & with lots of excellent quality illustrations documenting his life's work. The book turned out better than I could have hoped for & arrived in time for her birthday too. She & I were delighted.

This book should come with a stand to hold it....

Love this journey into the life and work of Picasso. Recommend for art lovers or those wanting to know more.

wow, fantastic and collectible reference. superb printing and photos, oversize and heavy. foundation book for the artist's many adventures.

vg

I love the book content, it shows that the review put some care on it, easy to read. Excellent quality of Picasso paintings. Highly recommend for people who love Picasso's painting.

I am tempted to say that this book by the Sorbonne Professor Philippe Dagen is all you will ever need on Picasso. And indeed - this ultra large, more than half a thousand page book, full of reproductions of the master's works as well as photos made of him and others at the time of working on his paintings, sculptures and drawings - supplies you with weeks of looking and reading pleasure. But as the writer himself says: "the subject is inexhaustible". There are not only his most known works, but also much lesser published drawings and graphic works with more private subjects. All in all, this book is a must in every art lover's library.

I did a lot of research before finally choosing this book for a present for a Picasso lover. Extremely pleased, fantastic coffee table book, beautiful pictures, massive, looks cool.

Granted, this is Picasso we're talking about, and there are very few artists who reach the levels of critical success and popularity that he did. The only others who have tasted the same rarefied air are Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, perhaps Botticelli, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and (maybe) Salvador Dali. None of the above engendered the kind of semi-religious reverence that Picasso did in his own lifetime; Dali might have been as popular, but critical response to his work was far more divided. This massive, 500+ page monograph by Philippe Dagen, published by The Monacelli Press, is absolutely perfect for anyone (like me) who has been searching for a serious, scholarly work that is nevertheless accessible to those without an in-depth knowledge of his oeuvre. Given the fact that Picasso was one of the most prolific artists of the 20th century, working quickly and without pause for over seven decades, even a huge 12"w x 14"h, 520 page tome has to make some difficult choices about what paintings and sculptures make the cut. Dagen has overcome this difficult problem admirably, navigating a course through the many stages of Picasso's career without getting hung up on tangential 'obstacles'; the fascinating biographical or intellectual details best left to the numerous volumes focusing on specific phases or themes (I.e. 'Picasso in Black and White', published by Prestel). The reproductions are flawless, and are balanced nicely with the text. Although there is very little wasted space, the book doesn't feel cramped. The paper is of the highest quality, the covers are black cloth with metallic silver embossed text. Highly recommended.

Love this book and the great color

Expédié très rapidement.Livre magnifique, avec belles grandes photos,Très satisfaite.