Picasso's Lovers by Jeanne Mackin

November 16, 2023

Picasso's Lovers by Jeanne Mackin

Pablo Picasso changed women like some men change their clothes. Nobody was off limits, and he didn't care if he hurt his wife Olga or whoever was his current mistress. He looked upon these women as his muses, his inspiration, and if he was going to paint a woman, he was also going to have sex with her. When aspiring journalist Alan Olsen receives an assignment from an art magazine to write something new about Picasso, she gets more than she bargained for.

I really liked Mackin's previous book The Last Collection, about Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. I didn't find this one quite so compelling, probably because I'm not a huge Picasso fan. I found the last third of the book to be predictable, no surprises here, and I found myself doing a lot of skimming. If you're a big Picasso fan or read only historical fiction, you'll probably enjoy this one. If you're a woman, you'll probably think Picasso was a real jerk who used women and then tossed them aside. Just saying.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Irene Lagut, an artist who was a contemporary of Picasso and also one of his lovers

The Last Collection by Jeanne Mackin

July 1, 2019

The Last Collection by Jeanne Mackin

Two fashion icons:  Coco Chanel is French, born into poverty and raised at an orphanage, known for her simple lines and neutral color palette; Elsa Schiaparelli is Italian, from a wealthy background, and famous for her whimsical and colorful designs.  They manage rival couture salons in Paris prior to WWII, competing for the patronage and money of the wealthy and the titled while the threat of war creeps ever closer.  Lily Sutter, a widowed American artist visiting her brother, becomes acquainted with both designers through her brother’s titled lover.  Full of glitz, jazz, fashion, and parties, The Last Collection is sure to appeal to anyone who enjoys the glamour of the golden age between the world wars.  Meticulously researched, this is solid historical fiction.  Perfect for summer reading, this is another one to toss in your suitcase or beach bag.