André Villers (1930–2016), Pablo Picasso with the bullfighter Minouni, the Charlet family and painter Schnei at the Charlet family's restaurant, Vallauris, 1955. Later gelatin silver print.

Black-and-white gelatin silver print, signed and annotated in ink along the lower margin by André Villers. Picasso is pictured at the Charlet family's restaurant in Vallauris, with the bullfighter Minouni seated to his left, the members of the Charlet family standing behind them, and the painter Schnei seated on the right. This print shows a wider composition than the cropped image reproduced in the 1990 exhibition catalogue.

André Villers first met Pablo Picasso in Vallauris in 1953, beginning a close friendship and artistic collaboration that would last for years. Their exceptional relationship of trust gave Villers privileged access to Picasso's everyday life, allowing him to photograph the artist at work, among friends and in unguarded moments. His images offer an intimate and spontaneous portrait of Picasso, revealing the man behind the celebrated artist.

The reverse bears handwritten identifications, the photographer's studio stamp and an extensive personal dedication addressed to Lucien Clergue on an affixed sheet.

Provenance: Lucien Clergue Collection, as stated in the auction listing for this photograph on Drouot (lot reference: https://drouot.com/en/l/35148166-andre-villers-1930-2016-pablo-picasso-and-minuni-at).

Literature: Picasso dans l'œil de Villers, Galerie Thierry Salvador / Contrejour, Paris, 1990, reproduced with the caption “Avec le toréro Minouni chez les Charlet, Vallauris 1955”.

Details: Photograph taken in 1955; later gelatin silver print (exact printing date unknown). Sheet: 39 × 30.5 cm (15.35 × 12.01 in). Image: 37.7 × 27.5 cm (14.84 × 10.83 in).

Condition: Light wear to the edges of the photographic paper; no other defects reported. See detailed photographs.