Pablo Picasso: One of the Most Inspirational Artists of the 20th Century (Interesting Biographies #13)

Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential painters of the twentieth century because of his innovations and experimentation. Behind the great paintings are a great story that reveals an interesting look inside this weird man.

Pablo Picasso was born Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Crispiniano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso on October 25, 1881, in Malaga, Spain. He was given many names to honor different saints and relatives. but that doesn't justify how ridiculously long it is. It's not like someone would actually call his by his full name. His first word was "piz, piz", which his mother claims was sort for the Spanish word for pencil, "lapiz". Or he just had to pee, but that wouldn't sound as pleasant. Picasso's inspiration came from his father, whom was an art painter and professor. By age 13, it is said Picasso had surpassed his father. His dad was so humiliated he vowed to never paint again. What a great lesson to teach your son, "if there is someone better than you, give up". Picasso was also so good he got into the School of Fine Arts his father worked at, however he lacked discipline. At age 16, Picasso enrolled at the Royal Academy of San Fernando, but dropped out because he was too cool for school.

In 1900, he moved to an apartment in Paris, France with his friend Max Jacob. 1900-04 is known as Picasso's Blue Period because he painted his paintings in red. Just kidding, obviously it was because he painted his paintings in blue. 1904-06 is known as Picasso's Rose Period because of the cheery colors of orange and pink. 1907-09 was known as his African-American Period, not because he became black, but because his art was inspired by African-American artifacts. During this period he painted one of his famous paintings called Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.

(Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon displays his weird taste in women.)

In 1909, Picasso along with Georges Braque (but no one cares about that guy) invented Cubism. Mixing cubism and serialism along with inspiration from the German bombing of Guernica, Picasso painted Guernica.

(Picasso's Guernica.)

In his personal life, Picasso was a player.  He had affairs with women that were much younger and older than him through out his entire life. Hugh Hefner would be jealous of this guy. As a result he painted several pictures of women such as the Weeping Mistress and Le Reve.

(Picasso's Le Reve is said by critics to be a picture of Picasso's erect penis. Do you see it?)

Picasso died on April 8, 1973, in Mougins, France.

This has been the thirteenth installment of my Interesting Biography series. Follow my blog for more entries in the future. Also read my previous biographies. Leave a comment if there is someone you want me to do a biography on.