The Women of Pablo Picasso: Genevieve Laporte and Picasso

Genevieve Laporte and Picasso (1951-1953)

Genevieve Laporte by Picasso

Genevieve Laporte by Picasso

In 1944 17-year old Genevieve Laporte (born in 1927) interviewed Picasso for a school newspaper. Years later in May,1951 Picasso began an affair with the then-24 year old. The relationship started when Laporte visited the 70-year old Picasso at his studio while he was still living with Françoise Gilot. That summer of 1951 Picasso took Laporte to St Tropez, leaving Françoise behind. After declining Picasso’s invitation to move in with him in St. Tropez, she left him in 1953 at the same time that Françoise left the artist.

Odalisque (Genevieve Laporte) by Picasso

In 1972 she went public with the affair and stored the art that Picasso created of her in a safe. In 2005, at age 79, the poet Laporte auctioned 20 drawings of her that Picasso created during their secret affair. Picasso’s time with Laporte has been referred to as Picasso’s “tender period”.