ALS in French, written in blue and red artist pencil, signed “Picasso,” one page, 8.25 x 10.5, March 9, 1957. Letter from the Cannes villa "la Californie," in full (translated): "My dear friend, here is the check for Mrs. Simon and a note from the private hospital Beau-Soleil (Cannes). You will tell me what is to be done. Sincerely yours." In very good to fine condition, with minor edge chipping, scattered creasing and faint toning from prior display.
Built in 1920, the Villa La Californie was the primary residence of Picasso from 1955 to 1961, and the private hospital Beau-Soleil was where his first wife, the ballerina Olga Khokhlova, passed away in early 1955. The mention of "Mrs. Simon" is in all likelihood that of Francoise Gilot, Picasso's mistress and the mother of two of his children, Paloma and Claude. Although Picasso and Gilot had begun their affair in 1943, the latter married artist Luc Simon in 1955, hence Picasso's use of the surname. Handwritten Picasso letters remain scarce and highly sought-after, with this particular multicolored example bringing to mind Picasso's famous quote: 'If I don’t have red, I use blue.'
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