Le Mystere Picasso (1956)

Le Mystere Picasso
Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
No writer credited
1956/France
Filmsonor
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] You should have an idea of what it is you want to do . . . but it should be a vague idea. – Pablo Picasso[/box]

This documentary takes you inside the mind and hands of a genius.

Director Clouzot and cinematographer Claude Renoir film Pablo Picasso as he paints a number of transparent “canvases”.  We see the artist’s decisions, failures, and triumphs.

This is just mesmerizing.  Mostly it is simply time-lapse photography as Picasso paints set to a musical accompaniment.  Everything he did looked great to me on the first go and then he would work and work until he completely transformed the painting.  The last couple of canvases in particular are great.  Picasso doesn’t talk much but when he does that is fascinating too.  Highly recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSoJUMnLc1o

Montage – greatly speeded up