Carnet de la Californie

Picasso's tribute to his studio-villa, La Californie, and his friendly rival, Henri Matisse

Inspired by his ornate villa in Cannes, Carnet de la Californie captures Picasso’s life at "La Californie" between 1955 and 1956. The sketches reflect his fascination with the mansion’s Mediterranean light, grand studio windows, and his final muse, Jacqueline Roque. This period was also a deeply personal tribute to his late friend Henri Matisse, as Picasso adopted Matisse’s themes of interiors and "odalisques" to process his grief and continue their artistic dialogue.

The 1960 portfolio was produced as a high-fidelity recreation of Picasso’s original spiral-bound sketchbook. Created in collaboration with Atelier Duval and Mourlot, the 39 lithographs were crafted to perfectly mimic the texture of colored pencils and fluid brushstrokes. By using advanced stone-plate printing, the edition preserved every detail, even the "ghost" smudges of charcoal, allowing collectors to experience the raw spontaneity of Picasso’s private creative process.