David Douglas Duncan - Picasso's photographer

David Douglas Duncan was working as a war correspondent in Indochina when he hatched the idea of photographing the world's most famous painter, as he had done with other celebrities for Life magazine.
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

Duncan's plan involved nothing more intricate than ringing the doorbell at Picasso's Cannes villa and asking if he could take some photographs.
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

Many of Duncan's photos show the artist either concentrating on a painting or drawing.
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

The access granted to Duncan enabled him to capture the painter's private life and the marvellous disorder of his studio. Picasso is seen here with his portrait Jacqueline With Flowers
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

The Musuem of Art and Industry in Roubaix, France, features 157 of Duncan's photographs taken between 1956 and 1962. This 1973 photograph shows some of Picasso's laminations stored in Mougins.
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

Some more of Picasso's work, this time taken in 1957 at Villa La Californie, Cannes Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

Many of Duncan's photographs capture the artist larking around. Here Picasso is shown with his son Claude, dressed as a clown, and art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

David Douglas Duncan's photographs show his skill at capturing a decisive moment, a gesture or glance caught in a fraction of a second.
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

Duncan says that Picasso wasn't really a clown, he was just having fun. In this photo he joins his wife Jacqueline in a kind of square dance
Photograph: David Douglas Duncan

Despite the intimate images, Duncan makes clear that Picasso never suggested poses to fit his image. "He never asked me to take a photograph," says Duncan. "You take pictures, I paint." Photograph: David Douglas Duncan