Pablo Picasso is a talented Spanish and French artist and sculptor. He is one of the founders of Cubism. Pablo Picasso's name (born Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Martir Patricio Ruiz y Picasso) was very long, so he used his mother's surname to sign his works. He is one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. According to art critics, his works are the most expensive. Below is brief overview life and
The artist's childhood and adolescence
Pablo Picasso's date of birth is October 25, 1881, he was born in Spain. He started drawing with early age. The boy's first lessons were given to him by his father, who was an art teacher. Pablo Picasso's family was simple, despite the fact that his mother belonged to a wealthy family of vineyard owners. Young artist made great progress and already at the age of 8 painted his first picture.
IN short biography Pablo Picasso should note that in 1891 the boy moved with his family to the northern part of Spain, because his father began teaching drawing in La Coruña. The boy continued his studies at the local art school from 1894 to 1895.
Then the family moved to Barcelona, and in 1895 Picasso began studying at school fine arts La Lonja. Even then, people were able to appreciate his talent: Picasso was too young to study at this school, but his father insisted that his son try to enroll on a competitive basis. He passed all his exams with flying colors and began his studies.
In 1897, Pablo continued his studies in fine arts in Madrid. But he devoted most of his time to studying the collection of the Prado Museum. Studying at the academy, which adhered to classical traditions, seemed too boring to the artist.
In 1898, he returned to Barcelona and joined a society of artists, which met in a bohemian cafe. A short biography of Pablo Picasso notes that it was in this cafe that the first exhibitions of his works took place in 1900. At the same time, the artist met C. Casagemas and J. Sabartes, whom he later depicted on his canvases.
"Blue" and "pink" periods
In a short biography of Pablo Picasso, you need to give a short description of the “blue” and “rose” periods. In 1900, the artist went to Paris with Casagemas. At the World Exhibition he becomes acquainted with the works of the Impressionists. That period was not easy for Picasso, and the suicide of Casagemas was a great shock for young artist.
Under the influence of these circumstances, at the beginning of 1902, Picasso began to create in a style that was called “blue”. The main themes of the paintings were old age, death, poverty, melancholy and melancholy. The people depicted in the paintings seem thoughtful, slow, immersed in their inner world. Among all the shades, the artist uses blue the most. The heroes of Picasso's paintings were cripples and representatives of the lower classes of society. His paintings are somewhat similar to the works of the artist El Greco.
In 1904, Picasso moved to Paris and his home became a hostel for poor artists. This was the beginning of the “pink” period in his work. The sad images were replaced by circus and theater themes. The palette was dominated by pink-gold and pink-gray, and the main characters of the paintings were wandering artists. In these paintings one could feel the romantic spirit of a lonely wandering artist.
"Girl on a Ball"
This work is the most famous creation of the “pink” period. It was written in 1905. The heroes are a fragile gymnast and a resting athlete. The main theme of the canvas is a traveling circus.
The gymnast practices her routine on the ball, and the athlete rests on the cube. The landscape evokes despondency, melancholy and contrasts with the cheerful craft of circus performers. Also contrasting in this picture are the depicted geometric shapes- cube and ball, active gymnast and resting athlete.
In 1913, this painting was acquired by I. A. Morozov, and in 1948 it became part of the exhibition State Museum fine arts them. A. S. Pushkin.
Cubism
In the short biography of Pablo Picasso, the theme of cubism occupies a special place. The artist became more interested in the analysis of forms than in experiments with color. Together with J. Braque in 1907, he created a new direction in fine art - cubism. Most often, Picasso depicted still lifes on his canvases, musical instruments and other items that were typical of bohemians.
The period of cubism in the artist’s work ended after the First World War. But some elements of Cubism appeared in Picasso's paintings until 1921.
Surrealism period
In a brief biography of Pablo Picasso, it should be noted that the period of surrealism is one of the ambiguous and uneven periods in the artist’s work. An absolutely surreal world appears on the canvases, a difficult atmosphere to perceive. The paintings contained incomprehensible creatures, shapeless, screaming or aggressively sensual images.
During this period, he also created quiet works that stood out from the rest. Most often this creative period women became the heroines of the paintings. The reasons for their frequent appearance may have been due to the fact that the artist did not get along well with his wife. In 1918, Picasso married and the Russian ballerina Olga Khokhlova, and in 1921 the couple had a son.
The artist was inspired to create sensual paintings by Marie-Therese Walter, whom he met in 1932. During this period, Picasso created busts, strange abstract forms from rough materials. But at the same time, in some works you can see that he was also inspired by classical forms.
Creation of Guernica
In 1937, German and Italian aircraft destroyed Guernica, the capital of the Basques. This news shocked the artist so much that in two months Pablo Picasso writes one of his most famous paintings is “Guernica”. The play of colors creates the appearance of a fire, and the central place in the composition was given to the fallen warrior and the woman running up to him. This painting conveys the horror and despair that gripped the inhabitants of Guernica. This creation was exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris.
During the war period, Picasso's paintings served as a reflection of the time: they were executed in dark shades and conveyed a feeling of anxiety. At the same time, the main characters of his paintings again became women with distorted faces and shapeless figures. From 1940 to 1944, Picasso remained in Paris and continued to create. In 1944, the artist joined the Communist Party, and in 1950, Picasso created the famous “Dove of Peace.”
Creativity in the post-war period
This period can be called happy for the artist. In 1945, he met Françoise Gilot, who would become the mother of his two children. The main theme of the paintings becomes family life. The artist and his family move to the south of France, full of Mediterranean charm.
Pablo Picasso creates not only canvases, but also engages in crafts and manual labor. He creates decorative plates, figurines, and paintings. In 1953, Pablo separated from his wife, during which time he wrote several remarkable works. In 1958, Picasso married Jacqueline Roque, who inspired him to create new paintings.
The artist's works differ in the quality of their execution and their diversity. Pablo Picasso died on April 8, 1973 in France. Talented artist had a great influence on the development of fine arts.
Pablo Picasso is put on the same level as the great artists of the 20th century. Versatile and unique in his style, he is considered the inspiration and creator of Cubism. He left about a hundred thousand works to the world, including drawings, sculpture and ceramics. His works of art are kept in many museums around the world. Paintings are some of the most expensive and often stolen.
Below are the famous and famous paintings Picasso with titles and brief description.
Painting: “The Absinthe Lover” (1901) Oil on canvas. 73×54
Along with other fifty paintings Spanish artist, acquired by Russian emigrant Sergei Shchukin, the painting is kept in the Hermitage. It was he who became one of Picasso's first generous buyers and helped him get out of poverty. According to art critics, the painting opens the “blue period” creative activity Picasso, filled with dramatic events in his life. There is still controversy surrounding the work, and in Paris at the turn of the century, it shocked many. Not only by the manner of execution, the mixing of colors, but also by the emotional tension into which the artist immersed the audience.
“The Old Guitarist” (1903) Oil on canvas. 121.3 × 82.5 cm 
This painting was the first of the artist’s works to be acquired by the museum. Since 1926 it has been stored in Chicago. Picasso wrote it at the age of 22, after his friend shot himself because of unhappy love. One could call it “The Blind Musician,” but the artist emphasized old age, in which creativity is the only outlet. He highlighted the instrument with a different color in the world of dirty blue: a shade that characterizes poverty and lack of hope. He painted the old man on top of another work: a nursing mother, the outlines of which can be seen on the canvas.
"Girl on a Ball" (1905) Oil on canvas. 147 × 95 cm.
The beginning of life revitalization. Pink becomes the main figure in Picasso's work for two years. He wrote several works on the theme of the traveling circus, which he was passionate about. In 1913, it was acquired by a collector and descendant of Savva Morozov from the writer Gertrude Stein, who opened the doors to bohemian life for the young artist. She was not only his friend, but also his patron, buying his paintings for little money. She sold the painting to Ivan Morozov for 13 thousand francs. The work is stored in Pushkin Museum, where it came from the nationalized Morozov collection.
“Boy with a Pipe” (1905) Oil on canvas. 100 × 81 cm.
A record holder for value in 2004, the painting was purchased by a private individual at auction for $104 million from a collector, the American ambassador to Great Britain. His family kept the work for more than half a century, earning $74 million from it.
Picasso painted the picture in a dormitory for young artists, where a teenager depicted in a wreath of roses often visited. This detail came to the artist’s mind after painful thoughts about how to complete the work.
Almost all of the artist’s early paintings are in museums, so this one has become a rare exception. The name of the private collector who bought it is not being disclosed due to fears of theft.
“Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” (1907) Oil on canvas. 244 × 234 cm
Known as one of the first manifestations of cubism in the artist’s work. The naked bodies are deliberately deprived of flexibility, and from their poses it is not difficult to guess that the girls were copied from the inhabitants of the brothel, where the author often visited.
It clearly shows the master’s transition from his passion for blue and pink to African period, which was soon crossed out new genre. Almost a year of work. From this time on, Picasso is recognizable: the trick, although the public and critics did not like it, became business card for the artist, and later served as the starting point for a whole movement in art.
The artist broke up with her in 1920. Seventeen years later, the world saw this work for the first time, and soon it was acquired by the New York Museum.
“Three Musicians” (1921) Oil on canvas. 200 × 222 cm
Picasso was married to Russian ballerina Olga Khokhlova and his life was finally drowning in luxury when he painted this picture.
Never recognizing boundaries and conventions, he tried to expand the boundaries in his creativity. The painting belongs to synthetic cubism - another original style of the artist.
He depicted very specific people, encrypted in symbols: these are friends Guillaume Apollinaire and Max Jacob - witnesses at his wedding. The third character with a guitar is Pablo himself. Pierrot has already died, the Monk has renounced the world, and Harlequin says goodbye with carelessness.
The painting is kept in the museum contemporary art in New York.
“Nude, green leaves and bust” (1932) Oil on canvas. 162 × 130 cm
Since 1936, its owners have changed twice. It has not yet been put up for auction. In 2010, “Nude...” was sold to an unknown private party for $106.5 million.
Another record holder for cost, like many of Picasso’s works.
The artist wrote it secretly from his wife and Maria Theresa Walter, a young lover who gave him a daughter. The artist was 46 years old, and the beginning of the novel was promising.
There are more than fifty portraits and sculpted busts of her. This painting was painted in just 24 hours in his surrealist style.
The preparation for the next exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the famous artist also gives inspiration. He wants to surpass his competitor and friend Matisse, who also intends to amaze the public with his exhibition works.
“Guernica” (1937) Oil on canvas. 349×776
The most recognizable and tragic picture, and also the largest in meaning and size. Picasso's anti-fascist views, her entry into the Communist Union of France and her bold response to the Nazis, who came to his workshop with a search and turned everything upside down, are known. One of them asked, looking at the huge canvas, whether Picasso did this work. To which he replied: “No, you did it.”
Guernica is the name of a town in the artist’s homeland, which was wiped off the face of the earth by German aircraft along with its inhabitants. Pain, suffering, horror of war - Picasso worked on this three-dimensional picture month.
All this time he was inspired by his new lover Dora Maar. She filmed the entire process of work with a camera, and these shots spread all over the world.
The painting was exhibited mainly in America, only in 1981 it moved to the Madrid Museum.
“Dora Maar with a cat” (1941) Oil on canvas. 128 × 95 cm.
The painting is kept by a private person in Georgia. The millionaire purchased it for more than $100 million in 2006.
It depicts the same Dora with whom fate brought the artist together for seven years. The novel was bright as a comet, and ended with her mental breakdown. She never posed, but her image is captured in many portraits. IN recent years their relationship - the smile on the canvas was replaced by tears. Weeping Dora is a character in a whole series of his works. But this lady in the hat is quite energetic, confident and feels like a winner. The black cat on her shoulder demonstrates her independent nature.
The combination of colors helps the viewer to immerse themselves in the mood while unraveling the symbols.
"Algerian women. Version O” 1955 Oil on canvas. 114 × 146.5 cm.
This painting broke all records when it was bought two years ago for one hundred and seventy-nine million dollars!
Moreover, it became not only a hit in Picasso’s work, but topped the list of the most expensive paintings. Who paid a fabulous sum for it is not disclosed, but some claim that it was purchased at the request of the ex-minister of Qatar.
Picasso created several versions, but the last one with the initial “O” became famous.
The images of women are collective images from the paintings of Delacroix, Renoir, and Matisse. Although some art critics see one of them as the last lover of the artist Jacqueline Rock.
What do you think about Picasso's creativity and works? Write in the comments!
On March 13, 1961, 79-year-old Pablo Picasso married 37-year-old model Jacqueline Roque. Dedicated to her greatest number artist's paintings. After Picasso's death, Jacqueline took responsibility for preserving the artist's legacy, thanks to her museums added priceless masterpieces to their collections. And on the eve of one of his exhibitions, Jacqueline shot herself.
The site remembers interesting facts about a controversial and scandalous master.
Miracle at birth
Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881 in Malaga, a small city in the Andalusian province of Spain, in the family of a painter, teacher at the school of fine arts and curator of the city museum, José Ruiz Blasco.
One of the most famous stories from the life of Picasso - about his miraculous salvation at birth. The fact is that the child was so weak that the midwife considered him dead. Uncle Pablo, who was smoking nearby, blew smoke into the baby’s face. The newborn made a grimace and began to cry.
Picasso's father gave up painting, unable to withstand the competition with his son
And after some time Pablo was baptized, giving quite long name: Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Martir Patricio Ruiz and Picasso. What to do - every ancestor wanted to leave a mark on history.
How to become an artist
From the age of 7, the child was drawing, for which he thanks his father. Actually, the craving for art was revealed with the first word: unlike most children who start with something in the spirit of “mom”, “dad”, Picasso started with “pencil”.
Absinthe drinker, 1901
Picasso did not tolerate criticism. In response to teachers telling him what to do, he always spoke harshly and rudely. For this, he was often sent to a punishment cell, which was more of a reward for Pablo than a punishment, because in captivity he could draw without distraction.
Picasso spent most of his time in a punishment cell during his studies.
Looking for a woman
“Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I look at things through the prism of love.” None of the great artists had as many affairs and lovers as Pablo Picasso. As he grew older, he chose younger and younger ladies, repeating: “If I live with a young woman, it helps me stay young.”

Picasso was married twice and had four children from three women. He treated his children and grandchildren quite cruelly. The son from his first marriage to Olga Khokhlova lived in poverty, while the artist bathed in prosperity: he paid for luxurious banquets only by putting his signature on a napkin, and boasted that he could buy houses for himself “for three pictures painted yesterday.” He gave his drawings to friends, even dedicated one plate to his dog, but nothing to his grandchildren. One of the grandsons committed suicide at age 24 by drinking bleach.
Picasso's children and grandchildren lived in poverty while the artist was chic
Girl on a ball, 1905
The secret of success
The creative biography of Pablo Picasso is truly extreme. Marc Chagall once said that he changes his style more often than his socks. It is traditional to distinguish 11 periods of Picasso’s work: early, blue, pink, African, analytical cubism, synthetic cubism, classicism, surrealism, pre-war, post-war, late.
One of the great photographers of the 20th century, David Douglas Duncan, once asked the artist which period was closest to him, which he considered the most significant in his work. Picasso spread his fingers: “Which finger do you think is most dear to me? I need them all!”
Marc Chagall: “Picasso changes his style more often than his socks”
Three musicians, 1921
Curiosities also happened. This is how composer Igor Stravinsky describes one of them: “From Naples I returned to Rome and spent a wonderful week with Lord Berners. After that I had to return to Switzerland, and I will never forget the adventure that happened to me at the border in Chiasso. I was carrying with me my portrait, recently painted by Picasso. When the military authorities began to inspect my luggage, they came across this drawing and did not want to miss it. They asked me what it was, and when I said that it was my portrait, drawn by one very famous artist, they didn’t believe me: “This is not a portrait, but a plan,” they said. “Yes, this is a plan of my face, and not of anything else,” I assured. However, I failed to convince these gentlemen. All this bickering took up a lot of time, I missed my train and had to stay in Chiasso until the next morning. As for my portrait, I had to send it to the British Embassy in Rome in the name of Lord Berners, who subsequently sent it to me in Paris by diplomatic mail.”
Portrait of Igor Stravinsky, 1920
In 2006, American tycoon Steve Wynn agreed to sell Pablo Picasso's The Dream for $139 million, which would have been one of the highest prices in history for a work of art. However, when demonstrating the painting, Winn waved his arms too much and damaged the canvas with his elbow. The owner regarded this as a sign from above and decided not to sell the painting after restoration.
Dream, 1932
Although Picasso gained fame for his paintings, he experimented with sculpture, ceramics, and graphics. Even designed the curtain, sets and costumes for several ballet performances. Picasso wrote poetry and became the author of two plays.
French artist of Spanish origin Pablo Picasso, full name Pablo Ruiz-y-Picasso was born on October 25, 1881 in Malaga, Spain.
His father José Ruiz Blasco was an artist, a painting teacher at the Provincial School of Fine Arts in Malaga, and a professor at the School of Fine Arts in Barcelona.
In 1950, Picasso was elected to the World Peace Council.
In the 1950s, the artist painted many variations on the theme famous masters past, resorting to a cubist style of writing: "Algerian women. After Delacroix" (1955), "Lunch on the grass. After Manet" (1960), "Girls on the banks of the Seine. After Courbet" (1950), "Las Meninas. After Velazquez" (1957).
In 1958, Picasso created the composition "The Fall of Icarus" for the UNESCO building in Paris.
In the 1960s, Picasso created a monumental sculptural composition 15 meters high for a community center in Chicago.
- one of the most “expensive” artists in the world - the estimate (pre-sale estimate) of his works exceeds hundreds of millions of dollars.
Pablo Picasso was married twice. In 1918, he married the ballerina of the Diaghilev troupe, Olga Khokhlova (1891-1955). In this marriage, the artist had a son, Paul (1921-1975). After Olga's death in 1961, the artist married Jacqueline Rock (1927-1986). Picasso also had illegitimate children - daughter Maya from Marie-Thérèse Walter, son Claude and daughter Paloma from artist Françoise Gilot.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Throughout the life of any artist, as usual, changes in handwriting, character, or even style can be traced. This phenomenon can be seen in the most famous painters- from Monet’s almost forced transition to abstraction at the end of his life, to the transition to a pronounced color palette. Although such changes are characteristic of most masters of painting, they are especially noticeable in paintings.
His career, which spanned almost 80 years, was successful not only in painting, but also in sculpture, ceramics, design and stage performance. Therefore, Picasso’s desire to experiment is not surprising. To trace the stylistic evolution of Pablo Picasso, art historians divide his work into several periods: “ early period", "blue period", "rose period", "African period", "cubism", " classical period", "surrealism", the war and post-war periods and the period of late works.
Early period
Picasso began to paint in early childhood— in his first paintings, the images had maximum similarity to the original, as did the color palette.
Early paintings
"Blue" period
From 1902, Pablo Picasso began to paint in a style that strongly expressed themes of old age, death, poverty and sadness. Blue shades began to predominate in the artist’s color palette. During this period, Pablo painted mainly images of the lower strata of society: alcoholics, prostitutes, beggars and other people.
Paintings of the "blue" period
"Pink" period
In 1904, Pablo Picasso began to give preference pink tones, creating images from the world of theater and circus. His characters were mainly traveling performers - clowns, acrobats or dancers.
Paintings of the “pink” period
"African" period
The short period, which occurred in 1907-1908, was inspired by the archaic art of Africa, which Picasso became acquainted with at an exhibition at the Trocadéro Museum. For the artist, this was a real discovery - the simple, and in some places even primitive, forms of ancient sculptures seemed to Pablo Picasso an amazing feature that carried a huge artistic charge.
Paintings from the "African" period
Pablo's passion for African sculpture led him to a completely new genre. Refusal to realistically imitate the surrounding world led the artist to simplify the outlines human images and objects, which then began to turn into geometric blocks. Together with French artist Georges Braco, Pablo Picasso became the founder of Cubism - a movement that rejected the traditions of naturalism.
"Classical" period
The transition from cubism to painting that would be more “readable” was influenced by both Picasso’s internal need and external factors. During this period the artist collaborated with ballet troupe Sergei Diaghilev, and also married Olga Khokhlova. It is not surprising that she would like to recognize herself in portraits, but her wife’s wish alone would not have influenced Picasso’s work in any way if not for his desire for change.
Paintings of the "classical" period
Acquaintance with Maria Teresa Walter, as well as communication with surrealists, turned Pablo Picasso towards surrealism. The transition to this direction can be described by his own expression: “I depict objects the way I think about them, and not the way I see them.”
War and post-war period
The threat hanging over Europe, as well as the fear of war, forced Picasso, if not directly reflecting the mood on the canvas, then to give the paintings gloom and tragedy. The artist’s post-war work can be called happy - wit and the absence of gloomy subjects can be seen in the artist’s works.
Paintings from the war and post-war periods
Later works
Until his death, Pablo Picasso continued to paint. However, unlike his previous works, the works created during this time are not classified into a specific style, as many of his works incorporate a variety of elements from previous periods. The works of Picasso's last 15 years are very diverse and uneven in quality.
