Pablo Picasso Bio

Pablo Picasso is generally remembered as a painter and sculptor who had a significant influence on many of his works. On October 15, 1881, in a city called Malaga, Spain, Picasso was born. His mother was Maria Picasso y López, and his father was Don José Ruiz y Blasco. There were just two sisters, Lola and Conchita, who were Picasso's siblings. Conchita, one of his sisters, went away at the age of 7 from diphtheria. His father, an arts professor, began instructing him when he was just 7 years old (National Gallery of Arts). The family moved to Barcelona where Picasso enrolled in a school of fine arts where his father worked as an instructor. At 13 years of age, he enrolled for an advanced class. He then transferred to Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando located at Madrid. His love for printing began to show. During this period, he excellently emerged to be a sculpture, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet and playwright. His work largely contributed to the artist world as he invented a great deal of painting styles still applied today.

Background

Picasso was Spanish born at Malaga in Spain. His mother was an Italian brought up in Genoa. France was his main area of residence. His family confessed catholic religion and therefore this was his first religion. He was baptized and named as per the catholic doctrines. He later conformed to a self-proclaimed atheist hence disregarding all existing religions. His first career was a curator at a local museum in Málaga (The Art Story Foundation). His father greatly inspired him by drawing paintings on nature. Picasso worked hard to adopt his father’s special principles and creativeness. Picasso’s father fixed him a chance at the academy he was teaching. He had to pass an admission exam that lasted for a month. In a week’s time he had passed and was admitted at 13 years. His uncle proposed and Picasso was transferred to the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid. Over this period, he didn’t like how teaching was conducted and resolved to venture on his own.

The Major Art Works and Durations of Remarkable Development

Picasso’s art career started before 1890. This was majorly inspired by his father who was a painter and academician (Pablopicasso.org). At this time, his work was rated as not of the recommended standards. In 1896, he painted the Portrait of Aunt Pepa, one of his greatest achievements obtained in Spain at only 16 years. This work was highly influential and symbolic as he had used oil to paint canvas of about 50.5*57.5 cm.



Portrait of aunt Pepa (adapted from http://www.bcn.cat/museupicasso/en/collection/mpb110-010.html)

Its symbolism is evident in the black clothes with a shadowing backdrop and enhanced outlining and facial expression. The portrait indicates deep psychological being of his aunt. Later on, Picasso proceeded to live in Paris, France (The Art Story Foundation). Here, he met an associate named Max Jacob who encouraged him to learn French and its literature.

In the duration between1901-1904 (the blue-period), Picasso adopted a new style of applying blue and blue-green colors. These colors produced a gloomy theme by centering using blue and blue-green shades illustrating the communities of that time. This is evidenced by the remarkable portrait La Vile of 1903.



La Vie portrait (adapted from https://www.pablopicasso.org/la-vie.jsp)

Later on in the years 1904-1906, Picasso invented a new style referred to as the rose period. This new design was also largely influenced by Fernande Olivier, his first love. Another source of influence emanated from an American writer who showed a significant interest in his work. This led to the Portrait of Gertrude Stein.



Portrait of Gertrude Stein (adapted from https://www.pablopicasso.org/portrait-of-gertrude-stein.jsp)

A major influence emanating from African culture was evidenced in Picasso’s work from 1907-1909. Over this period, Paul Cezanne influenced him to draw the Demoiselles d'Avignon in 1907.



The portrait of Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (adapted from https://www.pablopicasso.org/avignon.jsp)

In 1909-1919, Picasso was further influenced by the cubism culture hence combining different influences in his work. His works were greatly motivated by the encounter of different associates and cultures. He is believed to be the initiator of pro-neoclassic, surrealism and sculpture art works that were very significant even in the current world (Pablopicasso.org). His work in Italy was characterized by large improvement in the combination of various new styles and modifications. In the last years of his works, he made great achievements before he passed on 8th April 1973.



Conclusion

Pablo Picasso having been born in a middle-class catholic family, this provided a humble background laying a favorable foundation for his remarkable achievements. His father was very supportive and therefore, he was a great inspiration and encouraged him to work even harder to greater heights. Picasso majorly ventured in the arts of printmaker, ceramicist, playwright, stage designer, sculptor, and poetry. His works have been highly admired and emulated by artists in the modern era. Some of his discoveries and standards have set record even in the modern art. Artists from many areas across the world have always applied the principles developed by Picasso as a measure of determining their degree of artwork. His many achievements of new styles and designs can be attributed to his numerous social encounters with different women and associates.



















Works cited

National Gallery of Arts. Pablo Picasso. October 22, 2017

Pablopicasso.org. Pablo Picasso. 2017. October 22, 2017

Picasso Museum. Portrait of Aunt Pepa. 2014. October 22, 2017

The Art Story Foundation. Pablo Picasso. 2012. October 22, 2017