Visual memory and what Picasso was really seeing

The painter’s recall was exceptional, but he always used it to create something new, says Christine Temple
Did an exceptional visual memory give Picasso an edge in his capacity for artistic excellence? Studies show that the drawing ability of children correlates with their visual memory; those who are good at one are likely to be good at the other.Picasso knew that the strength of his memory was of fundamental importance. It was, he said: “A painter’s most useful adjunct.&rdquo