This week we are introducing two important women related to popular works by Pablo Picasso from our Summer Show 2026: Françoise Gilot and Geneviève Laporte. These two women were undoubtedly formative to Picasso's work, being the only two women known to have ever left Picasso on their own terms, after which they forged prolific careers. They were more than mere muses.
Pablo Picasso, Françoise, 1946
An artist in her own right, Françoise Gilot (1921-2023) has often been overshadowed by her relationship with Picasso. One of only two women to have ever been signed by the renowned dealer Daniel-Henri Kahlenweiler (who also published the work below), Gilot held her first major exhibition with him in 1952 at his famous Galerie Louise Leiris. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 1955 and later collaborated with the museum on costume and stage design. Her work has been exhibited widely and is held at celebrated institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and the Centre Pompidou. A true polymath, Gilot was also a best-selling author and received France’s highest order of merit—the Legion Honour (Légion d’honneur)— in 1990 when she was appointed a Chevalier and in 2010 when she was made an Officer.
Joining Picasso for some of the most transformative years of his life from 1943-1953, Gilot is the first woman known to have ever left him, stating that ‘I wanted to explore my own solitude’. With her intricate knowledge of ceramics inspired by her mother, Gilot undoubtedly had a profound influence on Picasso’s post-war work. She also pushed him to explore lithography, inspiring the period of his most prolific lithographic output. Gilot was featured in a number of Picasso's works in his signature abstract style, including this piece—Françoise (1946)—on view in our Summer Show. Using simplified marks, he captured her characteristic dark arching eyebrows, luscious locks and youthful doe-eyed face. Gilot and Picasso share two children: Paloma and Claude.
Geneviève Laporte (1926-2012) was a writer, filmmaker, and philanthropist, however her many achievements have also often been eclipsed by her relationship with Picasso. One of Picasso's last lovers, Laporte was also one of the most elusive. A prolific producer, she made 18 documentary films and wrote 16 books during her lifetime. One of her volumes of poetry was awarded a prestigious prize by the Académie Française in 1999. She was also an excellent equestrian, having learnt first-hand from Colorado cowboys.
With Picasso for two years in the 1950s, she declined his invitation to move in with him after Gilot's departure in 1953, leaving him shortly after to realise her potential as an artist. Of the split, she famously declared: ‘his ex-girlfriend leaves one morning, and he asks me to move into the house the next day. Would you have gone?’ During their time together Picasso presented Laporte with a number of his pieces as love letters, including this particular piece featured in our show. The present work demonstrates Picasso’s ceaseless desire to present an alternative to realism. The artist challenges our perception of portraiture and reality by capturing the woman’s face in a simultaneous profile and frontal-facing perspective. As the viewer, our eyes delight in the challenge to understand this surreal vision of a multifaceted woman, made up of elegant curving, intersecting lines.
This summer, Shapero Modern is presenting an exquisite group exhibition featuring post-war and contemporary artists whose bold, colourful prints evoke the joy of sunny days.
View works by Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, David Hockney, Helen Frankenthaler, & more in our flagship gallery at 94 New Bond Street, W1S 1SJ Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sundays 11:30am to 6pm.
