Pablo Picasso

Born in 1881 in Málaga, Andalusia, Pablo Picasso stands as one of the most important figure in the 20th century art world. Before the age of 50, the Spanish born artist had become the most well-known name in modern art,. His father played a major influential role in Picasso’s development in art. In 1895, his family moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he studied at the prestigious Madrid’s Real Academia de Bella Artes de San Fernando, Spain’s top art academy. Collaborating closely with Georges Braque, Picasso pioneered the development of Cubism, invented collage, and made significant contributions to Symbolism and Surrealism. His artistic exploration extended to mediums such as printmaking and ceramics.

Define as the Blue Period (1901 to 1904), Picasso’s paintings were characterized by his monochromatic composition and symbols, reflecting his disillusionment following the suicide of his friend. In the subsequent Rose Period (1904 – 1906), Picasso embraced expressionist and post-impressionist styles and created his first clay sculpture, ‘Femme Assise’. His works during this period conveyed a romantic quality, marked by warm colours and pink hues. These periods were then followed by the African Period, Analytic and Synthetic Cubism, as well as Classic and Surrealist eras. By 1936, Mythological and Spanish themes dominated his art, eventually becoming symbols of the Spanish Civil War and Fascist atrocities.

Even after the war, even though the energy in avant-garde art shifted to New York, Picasso remained a titanic figure, and one who could never be ignored. Picasso died on April 8th, 1973, in Mougins, France, at 91 years old, leaving a profound legacy that continues to influence modern art.