Beautifully illustrated graphic novel that covers the years 1900-1908 in Picasso’s life, from when he was a struggling 19-year-old artist in Paris, to when he began to break through, and with works such as Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907), set the foundations for cubism and modern art. The novel is told from the perspective of Fernande Olivier, his beautiful muse, lover, and model, and we learn of her life story in this period as well. The novel brings out the bohemian lifestyle and personalities of the artists of the day – Braque, Derain, and of course Matisse, who he had an intense rivalry with. The social gatherings, Gertrude Stein and her crowd, and then Picasso’s legendary dinner party for Henri Rousseau, are fascinating.

Max Jacob, a poet and critic who recognized Picasso’s genius early on and supported him, comes across as a real hero, and I suppose artists need these types of people to survive. He introduced Picasso to writer Guillaume Apollinaire, and the scenes of the three of them walking around at night shooting off a pistol while shouting ‘Down with Laforgue! Viva Rimbaud!’ are memorable. While discussing the future on the final pages, the book somewhat strangely doesn’t mention that Apollinaire would die in the influenza pandemic in 1918 at the age of 38, and Jacob would die on his way to Auschwitz in 1944 – how terribly sad.

Some may criticize the book for focusing on a narrow window of Picasso’s life, or want more out of it, but I think it’s stronger as a result, as it allows more detail into these people’s lives, their feelings and motivations, and there is certainly enough here to keep it captivating. This was a book that was hard to put down, and I devoured it. ( )