Pablo Picasso found refuge in the seaside resort of Royan on September 2, 1939, the eve of the declaration of war. There, he joined his ex-companion Marie-Thérèse Walter and their 5-year-old daughter Maya. His new mistress, Dora Maar, a photographer he had met in 1935, accompanied him. In the early months of 1940, he leased a studio in Villa Les Voiliers . Picasso was quite prolific during these stressful months in Royan. He would only settle back in Paris in August of that year. The intense nature of his creativity at this time provides a perfect reflection of life under the German Occupation. Using recently uncovered correspondence, drafted poems and sketchbooks, I analyze the impact the tragic events of this period had on Picasso’s output while also examining correlations between his literary and plastic creations. The detailed interpretation of his works uncovers their true autobiographical nature, demonstrating a clear tendency in the artist to filter his experiences through those of his companions, friends and acquaintances.
KeywordsPicassoRoyanParisMarie-Thérèse WalterDora Maar
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