Manolo Hugué was an artist friend of Pablo Picasso’s from Barcelona and he helped introduce Picasso to Paris in the early 1900s. Hugué lived at the Bateau Lavoir. Later he married a woman he met in Montmartre named Jeanette de Rochette, better known as Totote. Hugué and Totote adopted a girl named Rosita. Hugué did many drawings of Totote and Rosita.
—Manolo Hugué, drawing by Ramon Casas from Wikipedia
In 1909, Hugué and family left Paris and went back to Barcelona briefly, and then moved to Cerét in southern France. This city was a haven for artists in the early part of the 20th century, especially for many of the Cubists and sculptors. Hugué falls more into the latter group. Picasso lived there for a while (1911 to 1912) with Eva Gouel after breaking his long-term relationship with Fernande Olivier.
—Totote, Manolo Hugué, 1935, charcoal drawing, 67 cm x 47 cm, Museu Abelló Mollet del Vallès, Mollet del Vallès, Spain
In 1927, the Hugués moved to the city of Caldes de Montbui in Catalonia, where his grandmother was born. He went to this city because of the spas there that he hoped would help his arthritis.
–one of Hugué’s sculptures
–Manolo Hugué later in life
Hugué was very well-respected, and even had a solo show at the Grand Palais in Paris in 1932. Hugué died in 1945, and Totote died in 1971. Their house in Caldes is now a museum with many works by Hugué, as well as about 100 of Picasso’s works.
By the way, Hugué, throughout his artistic career, was better known as “Manolo,” but I needed an “H” subject, as I already have “M” covered.
Hi Denise – I am loving all of these Picasso oriented posts … and Hugue I’d never heard of … but that sculpture … of a cow? … is delightful – cheers Hilary
Thanks, Hilary. I just picked that sculpture because I like it. It might be a bull, but it is odd-looking. Hugué did a lot of bullfighting-related sculptures since he was Spanish and lived and grew up in an area where bullfighting was very popular, as did Picasso. They were both raised in Barcelona . . .Just look up Manolo images and you will find more of his work. The literature says he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Cheers, D
I’m glad you picked this H – fun stuff. 🙂
I always find the information about “artist living communities” interesting. Your blog is loaded with such great detail. Nice Job!! ZD
Thanks, ZD45!