Pablo Picasso, whose full name is Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso, is one of the most influential and renowned artists in the 20th century. He was born on October 25, 1881, in Málaga, Spain, into a middle - class family with a strong artistic background. His father, José Ruiz y Blasco, was a painter and a professor of art, and it was his father who first recognized Pablo's artistic talent and provided him with formal training from the age of seven.
From a young age, Picasso showed a remarkable passion and aptitude for drawing. His early works demonstrated a high level of technical skill, influenced by his father's traditional academic approach to art, which emphasized disciplined copying of the masters and drawing from plaster casts and live models. As a result, Picasso's early style was quite naturalistic. In 1895, after the tragic death of his seven - year - old sister Conchita from diphtheria, the family moved to Barcelona. Here, Picasso entered the School of Fine Arts, where he completed some of his first significant works, such as "The First Communion" (1895 - 1896 winter) and "Science and Charity" (1897 ), with the latter winning a gold medal at an exhibition in Málaga. In 1897, he furthered his studies at the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. However, he soon grew disillusioned with the formal, traditional teachings there and stopped attending classes regularly, preferring to explore the artworks in Madrid's Prado Museum, which housed masterpieces by artists like Francisco Goya and El Greco.
Picasso's artistic journey is marked by distinct periods, each characterized by a unique style and set of themes. His Blue Period (1901 - 1904) was a time of somber and melancholic works. The death of his friend Carlos Casagemas in 1901 deeply affected Picasso, and this grief, combined with his own experiences of poverty and hardship in Paris, led to the predominance of blue and blue - green hues in his paintings. Works from this period, such as "The Old Guitarist" (1903), depict emaciated, lonely figures, often from the lower classes, reflecting the harsh realities of life. The color blue was used not only to create a mood but also as a symbol of poverty, isolation, and the human condition.
Following the Blue Period was the Rose Period (1904 - 1906). During this time, Picasso's palette lightened, and a warm, rosy - pink color became prominent. This change in color was accompanied by a shift in subject matter. He began to focus more on circus performers, acrobats, and clowns, creating a sense of joy and playfulness in his works. This transformation in his style was likely influenced by his relationship with Fernande Olivier, whom he met in 1904. Paintings like "The Family of Saltimbanques" (1905) and "Boy with a Pipe" (1905) are representative of this period. The Rose Period brought Picasso more recognition and financial success, as his works became more popular among art collectors and the public.
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