> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # No One Was “Picasso’s Woman” - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/no-one-was-picassos-woman/ - Published: 2026-01-12T11:00:14.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-12T11:00:16.000Z - Description: South Africa axes a performance about the genocide in Gaza, the real lives of the women who loved Picasso, the imaginative worlds of Rousseau, and Beer With a Painter. - Author: Hyperallergic - Tags: Daily Newsletter, Newsletter As an editor, you learn to pay attention to the nuances of language. How we phrase something can speak volumes about our perspectives. Some words are fine in one context, but in another they might be detrimental. "Victim" is an example — who wants “victimhood” to encompass their whole person? And possessives are a minefield of power relationships; for instance, a person experiencing mistreatment at the hands of a partner should be defined by neither the treatment nor the tormenter (who, most often, deserves that title). Our review today of Sue Roe's new book *Hidden Portraits: Six Women Who Shaped Picasso’s Life* bears witness to this intertwining of language and violence. As it attempts to tell the stories of the individual women who played significant roles in the artist’s life as wives and companions, the book reminds readers of their independence as people and artists themselves. But more than that, it draws attention to how these women are too often thought of as “Picasso’s women,” when they were no one’s belongings, and who they were beyond their identities as muses and confidants to the famously misogynistic and abusive art icon. No matter how much you’ve already read about Picasso, don’t miss Bridget Quinn's review of this book. They are *not* about him. —*Natalie Haddad, reviews editor* --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/01/GettyImages-56458430-1.jpg)](https://hyperallergic.com/the-women-who-were-more-than-just-picassos-loves/) Picasso with Jacqueline Roque in his mansion "La Californie" in Cannes, 1957 (photo by Imagno/Getty Images) ### [The Women Who Were More Than Just Picasso’s Loves](https://hyperallergic.com/the-women-who-were-more-than-just-picassos-loves/) Sue Roe examines the lives of six women who played major roles in Picasso's life. While her book could be more complex, its thorough research and history offer a much-needed response to the millions (or more) words that have been written about Picasso. As Bridget Quinn writes, just in case you were wondering, "Those women were, by the way: Fernande Olivier, Olga Khokhlova, Marie-Thérèse Walter, Dora Maar, Françoise Gilot, and Jacqueline Roque." --- --- ## News [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/01/Gabrielle-Goliath---Ingrid-Masondo_photo-by-ZUNIS_1-1.jpg)](https://hyperallergic.com/south-africa-axes-venice-biennale-proposal-centering-gaza-victims/) Artist Gabrielle Goliath and curator Ingrid Masondo, who developed the **Elegy* proposal for South Africa's participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale (photo by ZUNIS, courtesy Gabrielle Goliath studio) - South Africa has [scrapped a performance centering Israel's genocide in Gaza](https://hyperallergic.com/south-africa-axes-venice-biennale-proposal-centering-gaza-victims/) planned for the country's 2026 Venice Biennale pavilion. The decision was reportedly made by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's right-wing minister, Gayton McKenzie. - Trump [withdraws from two important international cultural heritage preservation and arts policy groups](https://hyperallergic.com/trump-withdraws-from-major-culture-preservation-groups/) as the White House deems them “contrary to the interests of the United States.” --- SPONSORED [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/01/FOV_Sandcastles_Hyperallergic_SponsoredPost_2400x1350_01-3.png)](https://hyperallergic.com/sandcastles-tells-the-tale-of-two-singapores/) ***Sandcastles** ****Tells the Tale of Two Singapores** The new short from documentary filmmaker and multimedia journalist Carin Leong explores the transient nature of humankind’s existence through sand. [Learn more ](https://hyperallergic.com/sandcastles-tells-the-tale-of-two-singapores/) ## From Our Critics [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/01/EX2025-2-20-2-cc-press-RGB-High-Res-JPEG--min-300dpi-.jpg)](https://hyperallergic.com/uncovering-the-secrets-of-henri-rousseaus-paintings/) Henri Rousseau, "Tropical Forest with Monkeys" (1910), oil on canvas; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, John Hay Whitney Collection (image courtesy The Barnes Foundation) ### [Uncovering the Secrets of Henri Rousseau’s Paintings](https://hyperallergic.com/uncovering-the-secrets-of-henri-rousseaus-paintings/) A new exhibition freshly contextualizes many artworks in the light of his personal story, while conservators conducted revelatory technical studies. | Judith Stein ### [There’s More to Look at Than Learn in 100 Nights of Hero](https://hyperallergic.com/theres-more-to-look-at-than-learn-in-100-nights-of-hero/) The film faithfully translates the feminist commentary of Isabel Greenberg's graphic novel while deemphasizing its more complex narrative techniques. | Dan Schindel --- SPONSORED [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/01/2400x1350_NIVIA.HERNANDEZ.2025.AUGUST2025-512-2.jpg)](https://hyperallergic.com/reach-new-creative-heights-at-sva-continuing-education/) ****Reach New Creative Heights at SVA Continuing Education** The School of Visual Arts in NYC offers more than 200 in-person and online courses, along with 10+ artist residency programs. [Learn more ](https://hyperallergic.com/reach-new-creative-heights-at-sva-continuing-education/) --- ## Beer With a Painter: Michael Berryhill [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/01/image-30-1.png)](https://hyperallergic.com/beer-with-a-painter-michael-berryhill/) Michael Berryhill in his Catskills studio (courtesy the artist) [Jennifer Samet talks to Michael Berryhill](https://hyperallergic.com/beer-with-a-painter-michael-berryhill/) about art school, advertising, and much more in her fan-favorite column. Berryhill explains, "I believe in making work for the society you dream of." I'll drink to that. --- ## Member Comment Steve Liggett on Rhea Nayyar's "[Artists React to the ICE Killing of Renee Nicole Good](https://hyperallergic.com/artists-react-to-the-ice-killing-of-renee-nicole-good/)": I'm not from Minneapolis, but when I visited 10 years ago, I saw nothing but hard-working Somalis in a food court. This action against Ms Good should be investigated by an impartial team from outside of the area, and peaceful protesters should voice their opinion and if they find that this ICE agent murdered Ms Good, then they should be charged with murder and sentenced to Life in prison. --- ## From the Archive [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/01/66-revoir-picasso-voyez-vous-vinciane-lebrun_7286.jpg)](https://hyperallergic.com/picasso-museum-is-showing-francoise-gilot-work-finally/) Françoise Gilot's paintings have a dedicated room at the Musée Picasso in Paris for a temporary special exhibition. (© Vinciane Lebrun/Voyez-Vous, courtesy Musée Picasso-Paris) ### [Picasso Museum Is Showing Françoise Gilot’s Work, Finally](https://hyperallergic.com/picasso-museum-is-showing-francoise-gilot-work-finally/) The prolific painter who died last June at the age of 101 forged a path of success despite Picasso's attempts to destroy her career. | Rhea Nayyar SPONSORED ****MFA, MA, and PhD Programs to Apply for by Early 2026** A list of arts-related graduate programs to explore and apply to before deadlines close. [View the full list ](https://hyperallergic.com/mfa-ma-and-phd-programs-to-apply-for-by-early-2026/)