Picassos's napkin

The myth of the overnight success and value

Picasso was at a Paris coffee place and feeling inspired he took a charcoal pencil from his pocket making a rapid sketch in a paper napkin. It took only a few strokes, yet was unmistakably a Picasso.

When he was about to leave, leaving the napkin behind, an admirer approached him and asked if she could keep the napkin to himself.

Picasso politely agreed and handed back the napkin, but not before asking for a million Francs.

The lady was shocked: “How can you ask for so much? It took you only five minutes to draw this!”

Picasso crumpled up the napkin and stuffed it into his jacket pocket.

“No”, he replied dismissing the lady “You are wrong. It took me 40 years to draw this in five minutes.”