An intimate portrait of Picasso in never-before-seen photographs by Edward Quinn, published 50 year's after the artist's passing. "He doesn’t bother me," Picasso commented of the photographer Edward Quinn, after the latter had first photographed him at work in the ceramics studio in the early 1950s. This was undoubtedly one of the reasons why Quinn was allowed to accompany the artist with his Leica for over 20 years from 1951 onwards during his time on the Côte d’Azur: in the studio, in private with his family, with artist friends, at the bullfight, out and about, with lovers or simply at the hairdresser’s. The Quinn Archive holds a large stock of photographs of great intimacy, showing Picasso in everyday life and documenting his idiosyncratic character, his humor, and his enthusiasm in an amiable and light-hearted way. Edward Quinn did not use a tripod with his camera, nor did he illuminate the room artificially; his main concern was to capture genuine pictures. As a viewer, you find yourself on eye level with the protagonists. Almost like in the street photography we know today, there is a captivating sense of the casual moment. This book is a magical selection of photographs from Picasso’s everyday life and shows the famous artist in many unexpected situations.

The South of France in the Golden 1950s. The sun is shining and palm trees cast jagged shadows on a polished motor purring up the drive to the Grand Hotel. Irish photographer Edward Quinn delighted in these scenes of Cote d'Azur splendour. Like no other, Quinn captured the essence of the Riviera high society, revealing its glamorous social and cultural life with a subtle and fine sense of humour. This new edition of his Riviera Cocktail has all the fabulous and fascinating ingredients of the era: movie stars and starlets, gamblers and musicians, business magnates and faded nobility - captured out and about on the sparkling Riviera and in more intimate moments. Text in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.

Originally published: Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1980.