Pablo Picasso (born October 25, 1881 – died April 8, 1973) is a French artist of Spanish origin of the twentieth century, the founder of cubism, the most expensive painter in the world. He is also widely known as a sculptor, graphic artist, designer, ceramist and theater designer.
Pablo Picasso lived an amazing and very long life, leaving behind more than 20,000 artworks. Of particular value are Picasso’s paintings, which are in great demand at auctions.
Pablo Picasso made a huge contribution to the world of fine arts, constantly tried his hand at different styles and genres. According to many connoisseurs of painting, it is Picasso who is considered the best artist of our planet over the past century.
Creativity and biography of Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga in southern Spain to a family of an art teacher. When the boy was 8 years old, his father got a position in another region of the country – Galicia and the whole family moved to live in La Coruña, and in 1895 – in Barcelona.
Pablo was fond of drawing since childhood, and already at the age of 8 he created the painting “Picador”, which he treasured and always kept with him until the end of his life. Picasso received his initial art education at the La Coruna School of Art, and at the age of 14 he was admitted to La Longha, a prestigious liberal arts educational institution in Barcelona.
At the age of 16, Pablo continued his studies at the main center for training artists in Spain – the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. The teenager had little interest in boring classes, but he eagerly studied the chic collection of masterpieces of the Prado Museum.
In 1898, young Pablo returned to the capital of Catalonia and became a member of the Els Quatre Gats art community, and 2 years later, the first personal exhibition of the painter’s works was held in a cafe of the same name.
1900 was a turning point in the artist’s biography.
Picasso first came to Paris for the World Exhibition, where he was greatly impressed by the paintings of the Impressionists. Under their influence, the first professional period of the master’s work was formed – “blue”. The works of this time are full of sadness and melancholy, the artist painted mainly vagabonds, beggars and destitute people.
The famous painting “Girl on the ball” marked the transition to the next creative stage – “pink”. Not only the color palette of the paintings of the young painter has changed, but also the style of presentation. Life-affirming notes appeared in them, although Picasso himself then lived in poverty.
In 1907, Picasso became interested in African culture and created his most expensive painting, The Girls of Avignon. The painter moves from trying to depict recognizable images of people to writing abstract personalities. Picasso’s new creative ideas were not accepted even by his closest friends, but this was absolutely indifferent to the genius.
Cubism
The year 1909 in the history of world art and the life of Picasso was marked by the birth of a new style – cubism. This revolutionary trend ruthlessly rejected naturalistic traditions in painting and caused a flurry of criticism. But the master’s work finally began to sell well, the era of poverty in the life of the artist is over.
In 1917, Picasso received an order for the production of scenery and costumes for Diaghilev’s ballet, and then, over the course of 8 years, several more similar proposals. Picasso moves from cubism to neoclassicism. Recognizable faces and real forms reappear in the artist’s paintings.
In 1925, the next creative period of Pablo’s life begins – a passion for surrealism. In this style, he creates sculptures and paintings, embodies in them strong erotic images of monsters in the world of dreams and the subconscious.
Tragic events take place in Spain – a civil war is underway. And after 3 years, German troops occupy France. The painter Pablo Picasso desperately protests against the senseless massacre. This is confirmed in his works imbued with the spirit of pacifism.
The post-war period of creativity is the brightest in the life of Picasso
The artist finds family happiness, moves with his new wife from Paris to the south of France and enjoys the simple joys of life. He is fond of lithography technique and arts and crafts.
In recent years, Picasso’s health has been steadily deteriorating, and his fortune has been growing noticeably. The artist continues to work, although he suffers from severe problems with vision and hearing, and often paints portraits of women.
Pablo Picasso died on April 8, 1973. He passed away in his country mansion at the age of 91. An outstanding genius achieved worldwide recognition and became a multimillionaire. During his lifetime, the first museum named after him was founded – in Barcelona, Spain. And interest in the work of a brilliant painter does not fade in our time.
