When it comes to the art and artistic movements of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso stands head and shoulders above the others.
Picasso, a Spaniard who painted, sculpted, and made prints, was a major force in modernising the Western art scene. As the driving force behind cubism’s development (an art movement in which familiar subjects are broken up to reveal all of their aspects at once), he laid the groundwork for abstract painting (art having little or no pictorial representation).
Who was Pablo Picasso?
Pablo ngel Diego José Francisco de Paula Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer Juan Nepomuceno Crispiniano Mara Remedios de la Santisima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso, also known as (before 1901) Pablo Ruiz or Pablo Ruiz Picasso (October 25, 1881, Málaga, Spain—April 8, 1973, Mougins, France), widely considered one of the greatest and most-influential artists of the 20th century and the co-cre (Picasso’s entire name is listed in the Notes to Authors section for further reading.)
As a testament to the resilience of the “disturbing” Spaniard with the “sombre…piercing” eyes who superstitiously believed that work would keep him alive, Picasso’s massive body of work survives, and his legacy endures. Picasso spent over 80 of his 91 years producing paintings that influenced and mirrored the 20th century’s whole contemporary art movement.
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When was Pablo Picasso Born?
On October 25, 1881, Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born to José Ruiz Blasco, an art teacher at a provincial school in the Spanish port city of Málaga. Between 1892 and 1897, Picasso attended several art academies. Including those in Barcelona and Madrid, after having learned to draw from his father.
The young artist showed an early mastery of academic draughtsmanship that would be visible throughout his career. And which later served as the vehicle for some of his most original work. He worked from live models as well as plaster castings of Greek and Roman sculpture.
Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881, in Spain. His parent’s artistic pursuits included painting and instructing others in the arts. Pablo’s interest in art began at a young age. He supposedly spoke his first word, the Spanish word for “pencil” (piz). It became clear very quickly that despite Pablo’s obvious artistic skill, he had little interest in formal education.
Pablo went to a prestigious art institute in Barcelona when he was only fourteen years old. Another Madrid institution welcomed him after a few years. But the traditional art lessons bore Pablo to tears. He had little interest in painting in the style of artists from centuries before. Something original was what he aimed to produce.
Fun Facts About Pablo Picasso
- The length of his name is 23 words. As is the norm in Andalusia, Picasso was christened with a long list of names, including those of numerous saints and extended family members.
- Pablo Picasso’s First Word. The Spanish word for “pencil” was reportedly his first word.
- The famous Picasso shirt. Picasso often appeared in images wearing a striped shirt by Coco Chanel.
- His birth was a traumatic experience. The nurse reportedly assumed Picasso was stillborn since he was so fragile at birth, but a doctor named Don Salvador managed to revive him.
- It was in Paris where he got his first job. Picasso’s first art transaction was with Pere Menach, who offered him monthly payments of 50 francs in exchange for his work.
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Family And Death of Picasso
Picasso had multiple extramarital affairs, two marriages, and four children with three different women (Paulo, Maya, Claude, and Paloma). On April 8, 1973, he passed away at Mougins, France, while hosting dinner guests with his wife, Jacqueline.
He was laid to rest at the Chateau of Vauvenargues, which he had purchased in 1958 and lived in with Jacqueline from 1959 to 1962, not far from Aix-en-Provence. Neither Claude nor Paloma Roque were able to attend the funeral because Jacqueline Roque forbade it. Picasso’s death left Jacqueline Roque, then 59 years old, devastated and lonely. She took her own life by shooting herself in the head in 1986.
Conclusion
Picasso, one of the most important artists of the 20th century, was known for reinterpreting familiar subjects through a variety of unexpected artistic lenses. In addition to being a major influence on Cubism, he also brought collage to the forefront of the art world.
Picasso had the self-assurance and fortitude to follow his vision as it lead him to new advancements in his field. Similarly, his lifelong yearning for sexual excitement prompted countless works of art. There is more to Picasso than the sum of his parts. Picasso will forever be a hero of mythic proportions. In the eyes of the public, he has long represented artistic genius in the modern era. Picasso is revered because he is a cultural crucible. One of the few individuals who can be said to embody the entire artistic life of their era.
The name Pablo Picasso is almost always associated with revolutionary brilliance and great art. Picasso, a child genius who was born on October 25, 1881, in Málaga, Spain, relocated to France, where he radically altered the course of art history. What further set Picasso apart was that he was an artist who created masterpieces that were treasured during his lifetime (typically, an artist is dead before the weight of their work is appreciated by the public, think van Gogh).