Would Picasso have donated 271 works to an electrician who worked for him for a few years in southeast France?
A French court began to contemplate that mystery on Tuesday at the start of a three-day trial of Pierre Le Guennec (Luh Gehn-EK) and his wife, Danielle. They claim that the artist, or his wife, gave them the 180 lithographs, collages and paintings and 91 drawings around 1970 when Le Guennec began working as a general handyman at Picasso’s estate.
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Pierre allegedly recalled that Picasso’s then-wife, Jacqueline, handed him a closed box containing the works, saying “Here, it’s for you. Take it home.” — and they never discussed it again. Danielle recalled that her husband came home with a stuffed trash bag, and told her that Picasso had given the works to him. The artist had been tidying his studio, according to that version.
