A groundbreaking exploration of Francis Picabia’s practice between 1945 and 1953—a remarkable period of new creativity and experimentation for the legendary artist.

The French avant-garde painter Francis Picabia (1879–1953) was one of the great innovators of twentieth-century modernism, with a career defined by his restless, visionary approach. Prefaced by Beverley Calté, president of the Comité Picabia, this book delves into Picabia’s practice between the years 1945 to 1952—an incredibly rich period during which Picabia created paintings unlike anything he had produced before, working alongside the growing Art Informel movement in Paris. Essays by art historians Arnauld Pierre Candace Clements shed new light on the hidden signs and symbols buried in his abstractions, the new painting techniques he employed, and the mysterious and fantastical reappearance of the “dot” in his work. Éternel Recommencement / Eternal Beginning is an essential resource, marking the first focused exploration of a crucial chapter of Picabia’s practice.