Pablo Picasso

* 25TH OCTOBER 1881 IN MÁLAGA (ESP)
† 8TH APRIL 1973 IN MOUGINS (F)

The Spanish artists Pablo Picasso is arguably the most influential artist of the 20th century.
His exceptionally comprehensive output of paintings, drawings, print works, stage designs, sculptures and ceramics can not be defined by a single style, but are rather an overlapping of various styles that follow each other and exist in close relationship to modern art, which he himself greatly influenced. His work can be roughly divided into the early works (until 1900), the Blue Period (1901 to 1904), the Rose Period (1904 to 1906), the invention of cubism with Georges Braque (1907 to 1919), a neoclassical period (1917 to 1925) a surreal period (1925 to 1944) and the late works (from 1945). His life and work can not be separated from each other and he often portrayed himself as well as his wives and lovers. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) is regarded as the first cubist painting and the birth of abstract painting. Another masterpiece of the 20th century is the monumental Guernica (1937), which portrays the horror of the Spanish civil war. His use of the dove in the poster for the world peace congress in 1949 has since become a worldwide symbol of peace. His work can be found in the most prestigious museums and collections around the world. Both Paris and Madrid have museums dedicated to his work.