
Pablo Picasso is considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century. He was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer. Picasso demonstrated a passion and skill for art from a very young age. He began his formal training under his father, José Ruiz y Blasco, at the age of seven, and painted his first oil painting, The Little Yellow Picador, at the age of eight. Throughout his lifetime, Picasso produced an extensive body of work, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and ceramics. He is thought to have created around 50,000 artworks, many of which were produced during his childhood and adolescence, showcasing his dedication to his craft from a young age.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birth | 25 October 1881 |
| Birthplace | Málaga, Andalusia, Spain |
| Father | José Ruiz y Blasco |
| Mother | María Picasso y López |
| First oil painting | The Little Yellow Picador, painted at age 8 |
| First incarnation of the theme of the "seated woman" | The Barefoot Girl, painted at age 13 |
| Periods of work | Blue Period (1901-1904), Rose Period (1904-1906), African-influenced Period (1907-1909), Analytic Cubism (1909-1912), Synthetic Cubism (1912-1919) |
| Death | 8 April 1973, Mougins, France |
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What You'll Learn

Picasso's father taught him to paint
Pablo Picasso was born on 25 October 1881 in Málaga, Andalusia, in southern Spain. He was the first child of José Ruiz y Blasco, a professor of drawing, and Maria Picasso López. His father was also a painter who specialised in naturalistic depictions of birds and other game. For most of his life, Picasso's father was a professor at the School of Crafts and a curator of a local museum.
Picasso's father recognised his son's talent at a young age and encouraged him to pursue art. At the age of seven, Picasso began his formal training under his father. He demonstrated extraordinary artistic talent from a young age, painting in a naturalistic manner throughout his childhood and adolescence.
As a child, Picasso did not like school and was often bored and unable to concentrate. He spent his time drawing and cutting out figures from paper. At the age of eight, Picasso painted his first oil painting, "The Little Yellow Picador". This passion for bullfighting was likely influenced by his father, who often took him to shows.
Picasso's father played a significant role in his early artistic development. He provided him with models and supported his first exhibition at the age of 13. In 1895, the family moved to Barcelona, and Picasso entered the local art academy, La Llotja, where his father taught drawing. The family hoped that Picasso would achieve success as an academic painter, and in 1897, his fame in Spain seemed assured. That year, his painting "Science and Charity", for which his father modelled for the doctor, received an honourable mention in Madrid at the Fine Arts Exhibition.
Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Picasso continued to develop his artistic skills, experimenting with different media such as pastels and pencils, and exploring themes such as pigeons, hands, and his sister Lola, who was one of his favourite models.
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He painted 'The Little Yellow Picador' aged 8
Pablo Picasso is known to have created an impressive body of work during his lifetime, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and ceramics. He is considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century. Even as a child, Picasso demonstrated a passion and skill for art, which he likely inherited from his father, José Ruiz y Blasco, who was a painter and art professor.
One of Picasso's earliest known works is a painting titled "The Little Yellow Picador," which he created at the age of eight. This painting is significant not only because it is one of Picasso's first creations, but also because it showcases his talent and artistic sensibilities at such a young age.
"The Little Yellow Picador" is an oil painting, making it particularly notable as Picasso's first venture into this medium. Oil painting is a technique that many artists take years to master, yet Picasso approached it with confidence and skill at a very young age. The painting itself depicts a bullfight, with a picador on horseback in the foreground and additional characters in the background.
What sets "The Little Yellow Picador" apart is Picasso's attention to detail and composition. The painting demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of perspective and a strong spontaneity of line. The use of colour is also remarkable, with the yellow costume of the picador adding a distinctive touch. This early work provides insight into Picasso's interests and influences, as his passion for bullfighting is evident and likely influenced by Pepe, who often took him to shows.
"The Little Yellow Picador" is a testament to Picasso's innate artistic abilities and his relentless pursuit of creativity. Even as a child, he approached his artwork with a maturity and skill that belied his age. This early exploration of oil painting laid the foundation for his future artistic endeavours, and it is fascinating to consider how his talent evolved over time, ultimately earning him a place in history as one of the greatest artists of all time.
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He painted 'The Barefoot Girl' aged 13
Pablo Picasso is known to have started painting at a very young age. He received his first formal training from his father, José Ruiz y Blasco, at the age of seven. Even before that, he showed a passion and skill for drawing. At the age of eight, Picasso painted his first oil painting, "The Little Yellow Picador", which demonstrated his extraordinary artistic talent.
Among Picasso's many paintings from his childhood, one that stands out is "The Barefoot Girl", painted in 1895 when he was only 13 years old. This painting is significant as it is the first incarnation of the theme of the "seated woman", a motif that would be revisited and renewed throughout his illustrious career. The same year, Don José took his son to visit the Prado Museum in Madrid, further enriching his artistic sensibilities.
"The Barefoot Girl" holds a special place in Picasso's oeuvre, as he always held his work from this period in high regard. The painting, along with another piece from the same time, "Man with a Cap", accompanied him to his living and creative spaces. Reflecting on these early works, Picasso said, "They still smell of La Coruña."
"The Barefoot Girl" is a testament to Picasso's precocious talent and marks the beginning of his lifelong exploration of the female form. This early work, inspired by his sister Lola, showcases his naturalistic style and his ability to capture the essence of his subject matter. It is a reminder that even at such a young age, Picasso was a master in the making.
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He disliked school, preferring to draw
Pablo Picasso showed a passion and skill for drawing and painting from a young age. He is thought to have produced about 50,000 artworks during his lifetime, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and ceramics.
Picasso disliked school and was often bored and unable to concentrate. In Sabartès's book, *Picasso, Portraits and Memories*, he describes how the young Picasso screamed every morning when the maid took him to school. However, in class, he spent his time drawing and cutting out paper figures. His teacher allowed him to bring in a pet pigeon, which he would sketch in the corner of the classroom.
At the age of eight, Picasso painted his first oil painting, "The Little Yellow Picador". This work demonstrated his passion for bullfighting and his desire for perspective, with different characters represented in the background and a strong spontaneity of line. This was also the year he created the drawing "Bullfight and Pigeons", which featured realistic-looking birds carefully drawn upside down atop a loose sketch of a bullfight.
Picasso's father, José Ruiz y Blasco, was a painter who specialized in naturalistic depictions of birds and other game. He provided Picasso with formal training from the age of seven, and the young artist quickly demonstrated extraordinary talent. In 1895, when Picasso was 13, he painted "The Barefoot Girl", the first incarnation of the theme of the "seated woman" that would recur throughout his work. That same year, he visited the Prado Museum in Madrid with his father, further exposing him to the world of art.
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He produced around 50,000 artworks in total (Picasso's lifetime)
Pablo Picasso is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He is known for pioneering Cubism, co-inventing collage, and exploring a wide variety of artistic styles. He was a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet, and playwright. Picasso demonstrated an extraordinary artistic talent from a young age, painting in a naturalistic manner throughout his childhood and adolescence. He produced around 50,000 artworks in his lifetime, with an average of two per day. This prolific output is due in part to his dedication to his craft, constantly experimenting with different theories, techniques, and ideas.
Picasso's childhood and early life laid the foundation for his artistic genius. Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain, in 1881, Picasso showed a passion and skill for drawing from an early age. He received formal training under his father, José Ruiz y Blasco, who was a painter and art professor. At the age of eight, Picasso painted his first oil painting, "The Little Yellow Picador," demonstrating his early interest in bullfighting. This passion is also reflected in another one of his early works, "Bullfight and Pigeons," which features realistic-looking birds drawn upside down atop a loose sketch of a bullfight.
Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Picasso continued to develop his artistic skills, experimenting with different styles and subjects. At the age of 13, he painted "The Barefoot Girl," which became the first incarnation of the theme of the "seated woman" that reappeared in his work throughout his career. During this period, he also created "Man with a Cap," which held a special place in his heart as it reminded him of his time in La Coruña.
As Picasso matured, he continued to explore new artistic movements and styles. In the early 20th century, he was influenced by the Fauvist work of Henri Matisse, which motivated him to explore more radical styles. This rivalry between the two artists fuelled their creativity and pushed the boundaries of modern art. During this period, Picasso's work is characterised by distinct periods, including the Blue Period (1901-1904), the Rose Period (1904-1906), and the African-influenced Period (1907-1909).
Picasso's artistic output was not limited to painting. He also worked with sculptures, ceramics, prints, tapestries, and rugs. His sculptures, in particular, gained recognition, and he is credited with co-inventing constructed sculpture. Additionally, Picasso's personal life and relationships with women influenced and directed the course of his art. His behaviour came to embody the image of the bohemian modern artist in the popular imagination.
Throughout his prolific career, Picasso's talent and creativity inspired and shocked the world. His work continues to be celebrated and studied, leaving a lasting impact on the art world and solidifying his place as one of the greatest artists of his time.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no exact information on how many hours Picasso painted as a child, but it is known that he started painting at a very young age and demonstrated extraordinary artistic talent.
Picasso started painting at a very young age. He received formal training from his father, José Ruiz y Blasco, starting at the age of seven.
Picasso's first oil painting, completed when he was eight years old, was titled "The Little Yellow Picador". It demonstrated his passion for bullfighting and his desire for perspective.
Picasso did not enjoy school and often spent his time in class drawing and cutting out paper figures. He was allowed to bring a pigeon into the classroom, which he would sketch in the corner.
In addition to "The Little Yellow Picador," Picasso painted "Bullfight and Pigeons" the following year when he was nine. At the age of 13, he painted "The Barefoot Girl," which was the first incarnation of the theme of the "seated woman" that reappeared throughout his work.











































