Lecture Notes: Pablo Picasso - A Life and Legacy

Early Life and Education

• Born in Malaga, Spain in 1881.
• Came from a middle-class family.
• Displayed artistic talent early; trained by his father, a curator and artist.
• In 1895, family moved to Barcelona after sister's death.
• Admitted to the Barcelona School of Fine Arts due to father's influence.
• Briefly attended the Royal Academy in Madrid; left soon after.

Career Beginnings and Artistic Development

• Moved between Paris and Spain; lived in poverty initially.
• Settled in Paris in 1904; began experimenting with new styles.
• Met Fernand Olivier; influenced his "Rose Period."

Rise of Cubism

• Met Georges Braque in Paris gallery; collaborated closely.
• Created "La Demoiselle d'Avignon," which introduced Cubism.
• Innovated with collages by attaching materials like cloth and newspaper.

Personal Life and Relationships

• Married Olga Koklova in 1918; met her during a ballet design project in Rome.
• Marriage clashed with his bohemian lifestyle; legally separated.
• Had numerous affairs; fathered several children.

Later Years and World War II

• Stayed in German-occupied Paris during WWII; did not exhibit.
• Produced notable works like "Still Life with a Guitar" and "The Charnel House."
• Created "Guernica" during the Spanish Civil War.

Legacy

• Died in 1973 in Mougan, France.
• Left a legacy of approximately 50,000 works (paintings, sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, rugs).
• Known as a worldwide celebrity and one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.