–Eva Gouel
Picasso and Fernande Olivier were together for many years. Near the end of their relationship, Picasso and Olivier were friends with the artist Louis Marcoussis and his girlfriend, Marcelle Humbert. Olivier had started an affair with Ubaldo Oppi and she had wanted Humbert to cover for her. When Picasso ended the relationship with Olivier, he and Humbert were already lovers. Olivier’s plan had backfired on her and Humbert and Picasso became a couple. Humbert’s real name was Eva Gouel. Picasso’s nickname for Eva Gouel was “Ma jolie.”
–Picasso and Eva Gouel
Norman Mailer wrote a book about Picasso entitled Portrait of Picasso as a Young Man (1996). Mailer describes Eva Gouel as “small, sweet, superficially submissive, orderly, thrifty and devoted to Picasso.” I like his wording of “superficially submissive.” Gouel was said to be a good businesswoman for Picasso as she could easily decide who were the serious buyers from the lookers and with Eva Gouel doing the dealing, Picasso fetched more money for his art. Eva Gouel also had found a wonderful apartment for the two of them in Montparnasse that also served as a studio for the artist.
–Picasso at the studio/apartment in Montparnasse that Eva Gouel had found for the two. They lived there happily for 2 of the 4 years they were together.
Picasso and Eva Gouel were together for four years. Sadly, Eva Gouel developed some sort of cancer or tuberculosis and died in 1915.
From a Spanish blog I found this description of Eva Gouel’s funeral:
… her funeral must have resembled a daunting surrealist work, only seven people to dismiss a young and beautiful woman, and among them, Max Jacob, a drunken poet, acting as a choir of mourners in a physical winter and existential of a Europe immersed in the First World War.
When Eva Gouel died, Picasso wrote a letter to his friend Gertrude Stein and told her, “My life is hell.”
However, as Eva Gouel was dying, Picasso was already consoling himself with a new lover, Gaby Lespinasse, a neighbor.
Sources: thoughtco.com, americangirlsartclubinparis.com, encyclopedia.com, efemeridespedrobeltran.com
Interesting. Some times I read about such artistic people. I wonder if they are “so” passionate about their art, that in reality, there is not much love left over in their hearts for another person………OR………ah, never mind!
Hahaha! Charismatic artists lead to trouble is all I know, ZD! This is after reading about their troubled lives! 😉
Well, didn’t take him long. Some people can’t be alone, other embrace it.
Yes, madly passionate artists seem different, or maybe everyone else is different.
Once he found Fernande, l don’t think he was ever alone again.
Hi Denise – so interesting to find out more about Picasso – I know so little about his life … but great to see some detail of his earlier life – Ma Jolie is one attractive lady – and sounds a smart woman to have around, sad she died so young – cheers Hilary
I know, Hilary! I thought it was very tragic that she got sick and died. I remembered her name but nothing about her as I was preparing these posts. So much might be different had she lived.