The French Riviera of the 1920s and early ’30s was a haven for artists and writers from the far reaches of the world. This book revitalizes the now-legendary tale of personalities such as Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Picasso, Picabia, Cocteau, and Gerald and Sara Murphy as they are caught between a desire for creation, the quest for happiness, and the looming darkness of World War II. Extraordinary images taken from personal archives reanimate the lifestyles and artwork of some of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Writer Xavier Girard is an art historian and critic, essayist, and professor of art history. A Chevalier of Arts and Letters, he has also directed and curated numerous artistic events. His previously published books with Assouline include The Mediterranean: From Homer to Picasso (2001); Bauhaus (2003); and Paris in the 1920s with Kiki de Montparnasse (2012). He also published L’Oursin and Trois hommes dans un jardin with André Dimanche. Since 2008, he has also dedicated himself to sculpture and photography.
