PABLO PICASSO

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was a Spanish artist who left an indelible mark on 20th century art through his contributions to painting, sculpture, etching, lithography, ceramics, and design.

 

Born in Malaga, Spain, he grew up as the son of an art teacher, and the family later moved to Barcelona, where he attended the School of Fine Arts in 1895. In 1900, Picasso made his first trip to Paris, which he returned to the following year for his first Parisian solo exhibition at the Galerie Vollard. During his Blue Period, he created melancholic paintings of beggars and mournful women.

 

He moved to Paris permanently in 1904 and, in 1905, began to paint circus performers and subjects from his Rose Period. In 1906-1907, Picasso embarked on a more revolutionary style influenced by Cezanne and Negro art, with "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" marking the beginning of his Cubist phase, which he developed with the collaboration of Braque in 1907.

 

 

He also designed sets and costumes for Diaghilev's ballets from 1917-1924. Picasso's wide-ranging work and his ability to reinvent himself across various mediums have cemented his place as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.