Goodbye Picasso (1974) by David Douglas Duncan is an intimate and visually arresting photographic memoir that captures the final years of Pablo Picasso, one of the 20th century’s most iconic artists. Duncan, a renowned photojournalist and close friend of Picasso, offers a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the artist’s private world—his homes in Mougins and Notre-Dame-de-Vie, his creative process, and his relationships with family and muse Jacqueline Roque.
The book’s 250+ photographs reveal Picasso in unguarded moments: painting in his studio, clowning for the camera, or lost in thought, surrounded by his artworks and beloved dachshunds. Duncan’s lens captures both the genius’s vitality and his vulnerability in old age, culminating in poignant images of Picasso’s final days before his death in 1973.
More than a tribute, Goodbye Picasso is a visual dialogue between two artists—a photographer and a painter—whose mutual respect illuminates every frame. The book’s candid, deeply personal approach contrasts with formal biographies, making it a unique testament to Picasso’s humanity.
