Picasso in Antibes: Autumn 1946
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For three months in 1946, Picasso lived and worked in the Chateau Grimaldi (now the Picasso Museum). He was 65, recently liberated from occupied Paris, and inspired by the Mediterranean light. He rented a small room on the second floor overlooking the harbor, where the morning light streamed through tall windows and the smell of sea salt mixed with paint and turpentine became his daily routine. In that short period, he produced an extraordinary body of work—23 paintings and 44 drawings created in this single studio space.
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The Exact Spots
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- The second floor of the Chateau Grimaldi — his studio, now the museum’s main gallery. This is where he painted La Joie de Vivre and The Goat.
- The ramparts below the Chateau — he sketched the sea and the fishing boats from these walls
- Port Vauban — the subjects of several drawings of boats and fishermen
- The view toward the Garoupe — the lighthouse appears in several backgrounds
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What He Painted Here
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The Antibes period is characterized by light and joy — a stark contrast to his wartime work. Key pieces: La Joie de Vivre (celebration of post-war freedom), Woman with Sea Urchins, The Goat, and Night Fishing at Antibes.
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See It Yourself
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The Picasso Museum is open year-round (closed Mondays). But the real experience is standing where he stood — on the ramparts, at the port, looking at the same Mediterranean light. Our guided walking tour retraces his daily routes and viewpoints, connecting you to the places and stories behind each masterpiece he created here.\n\n
FAQ
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How long did Picasso stay in Antibes?
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Three months: September to November 1946. He never returned to live here, but he left the city 23 paintings and 44 drawings.
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Can I see the actual studio?
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Yes — the second-floor room in the museum is preserved much as it was when he worked there.
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Walk in Picasso’s Footsteps
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Simon tells the stories behind each painting, standing at the exact spot where it was created.
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More history: Picasso Museum guide | Roman Antibes
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\nLast updated: 2026 | By Simon, Antibes Walks guide\n