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Pablo Picasso Pablo Ruiz y Picasso was a child prodigy and a rebel teenager born in Malaga, Spain on October 25, 1881. He has come to be known as the most influential artist of the twentieth century. In his career as an artist, lasting more than 75 years, Picasso went through many different periods, the major ones being the “blue period,” the “rose period,” and the cubism period. Picasso was not only a painter. He was also a sculptor, a printer, and ceramist who worked in realism, caricature, cubism, and many other styles. Critic Hughes states, "There was scarcely a 20th century movement that he didn't inspire, contribute to or--in the case of Cubism, which, in one of art history's great collaborations, he co-invented with Georges Braque--beget" (http://www.picasso.com/life/). The blue and rose periods of Picasso’s career were named that because of, obviously, the colors he used in his works. During the “blue period,” which lasted from 1901 to 1904, all of his painting had a bluish tone. These works of art were painted during Picasso’s repeated location changes between Barcelona and Paris, and were focused on outcasts, beggars, and prostitutes. La Vie, created in 1903, was Picasso’s most moving “blue period” piece. What started as a self-portrait transformed into a portrait of his childhood friend, Casagemas, who had committed suicide. In 1905 and 1906, Picasso’s color tone changed. Influenced by the circus’ acrobats and clowns, he started painting in pinks and grays, often highlighted with even brighter colors. This was known as the “rose period.” In 1907, Picasso met Georges Braque, and together, they created Cubism. Picasso and Braque stayed in contact. Picasso, in 1917, painted the set and made the costume design for a ballet titled “Parade.” During the 20’s, Picasso continued his work in theater sets, Cubism, Classical, and Surrealism, and worked in iron sculpture. In the 30’s Picasso worked with graphics. His famous painting, Guernica, was done in 1937 in response to the bombing in Guernica, Spain. During World War II, Picasso turned to ceramics and print-making to release his energy. In the 1950’s, he painted many variations of older successful paintings. In the 60’s, Picasso created a towering, 50-foot sculpture for the Chicago Civic Center. He also donated over 800 pieces of his work to the Berenguer de Aguilar Palace Museum in Barcelona in the 70’s. The masterminded, famous, and talented, Pablo Picasso, died on April 8, 1973 in Antibes, France at the age of 93.
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