15 Things You Didn't Know About Picasso

Alux.com
18 May 201713:21

TLDRPablo Picasso, born in Malaga, Spain, was a multifaceted artist known for his influential role in the Cubist movement and various artistic inventions. Despite initial health concerns at birth, his artistic talent was evident early on, with his first word being 'pencil.' Picasso's work, ranging from paintings to sculptures, has inspired countless artists and remains highly valuable, with pieces like 'Les Femmes d'Alger, Version O' fetching millions at auctions. His distinctive striped shirts and the various periods of his art, such as the Blue and Rose periods, are well-known. Picasso's life was filled with legal battles over his estate and a unique sense of humor, as evidenced by his final words. His legacy continues to captivate the art world.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Pablo Picasso, born in Málaga, Spain in 1881, was a multifaceted artist known for founding Cubism and inventing collage and constructed sculpture.
  • 📏 Picasso's birth name was incredibly long, spanning 23 words, but he chose to use his mother's maiden name, Picasso, as his professional name.
  • 😲 At birth, Picasso was so weak that he was mistakenly thought to have died, but was revived in an unconventional way by his uncle using cigar smoke.
  • ✏️ Picasso's first word was 'pencil' (peiz in Spanish), hinting at his future as a legendary artist from a very young age.
  • 🖼️ He completed his first painting at age 9, a depiction of a traditional Spanish bullfight, showcasing early signs of his artistic talent.
  • 💰 One of Picasso's paintings, 'Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O),' sold for $179.4 million in 2015, making it one of the most expensive artworks ever auctioned.
  • 🏛️ Picasso's work is divided into several periods, including the Blue Period, Rose Period, and periods of Cubism, Neoclassicism, and Surrealism.
  • 👕 Known for his iconic striped shirts, Picasso helped popularize the Breton stripe, which was adopted into mainstream fashion by Coco Chanel in 1917.
  • 📈 At the time of his death in 1973, Picasso had an estimated net worth of $500 million, leaving behind a vast estate of over 16,000 paintings.
  • 🕵️‍♂️ Picasso was once brought in for questioning regarding the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, though he was not involved in the crime.

Q & A

  • What is the full name of Pablo Picasso?

    -Pablo's full name is Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz Picasso.

  • What was Picasso's first word?

    -Picasso's first word was 'pencil', which is a shortened version of the Spanish word 'lapiz'.

  • At what age did Picasso complete his first painting?

    -Picasso completed his first painting at the age of nine, titled 'Le Picador'.

  • Which of Picasso's paintings is considered the most valuable?

    -The most valuable painting by Picasso is 'Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O)', which was sold for $179.4 million.

  • What was Picasso's net worth at the time of his death?

    -Picasso had a net worth of an estimated $500 million at his death.

  • How many periods are there in Picasso's artistic career?

    -Picasso's art is subdivided into five main periods: the Blue Period, the Rose Period, Cubism, Neoclassicism, and Surrealism.

  • Why was Picasso questioned in relation to the Mona Lisa's theft?

    -Picasso was questioned because a friend of his, Guillaume Apollinaire, had previously called for the Louvre to be burnt down, and some suggested Picasso as the culprit.

  • Which artist does Picasso's style remind us of with his masterpiece 'Guernica'?

    -With 'Guernica', Picasso's style is reminiscent of stained glass.

  • What is the significance of striped shirts to Picasso?

    -Picasso is often associated with Breton striped shirts, which became popular in mainstream fashion after being introduced by Coco Chanel in 1917.

  • How did the Nazis view Picasso's artwork during World War II?

    -The Nazis deemed Picasso's artwork as 'degenerate art' and forbade him from showing his paintings in an official public capacity.

  • Where is Picasso buried and why is this location significant?

    -Picasso is buried on Mont Sainte-Victoire in France, a place special to him because it was painted by Paul Cézanne more than 30 times.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Life and Artistic Journey of Pablo Picasso

This paragraph introduces Pablo Picasso, a legendary Spanish artist known for his significant contributions to society and the art world. Born on October 25th, 1881, in Malaga, Spain, Picasso was a multifaceted artist, engaging in painting, sculpting, ceramics, playwriting, and poetry. Renowned for his role in founding the Cubist movement, inventing collage, and developing constructed sculpture, his influence continues to resonate globally. The paragraph delves into lesser-known facts about Picasso, such as his extensive full name, his early life challenges, and his artistic development from his first word 'pencil' to his first painting at age nine. It also highlights his remarkable achievements, including the high value of his artwork and his net worth at the time of his death.

05:01

🏆 Picasso's Legacy and the Most Expensive Artworks

This paragraph discusses the impact of Picasso's artwork on the art market and his position among the most expensive artists globally. It details the sale of his painting 'Women of Algiers, Version O', which ranks as the seventh most expensive artwork ever sold at auction. The paragraph also lists other highly valued Picasso paintings and provides an estimate of his net worth at the time of his death. Additionally, it covers the legal disputes within Picasso's family over his estate and the use of his name for branding, as well as an overview of the different periods of his artistic career, from the Blue and Rose periods to Surrealism.

10:02

👕 Iconic Style and Personal Life of Pablo Picasso

This paragraph focuses on Picasso's personal life, style, and the controversies surrounding him. It talks about his love for striped shirts, which originated as a uniform for French seamen and were later popularized by fashion designer Coco Chanel. The narrative also touches on Picasso being the first living artist to have his work displayed at the Louvre and his connection to the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911. Furthermore, it reveals that Picasso's artwork has been stolen more than any other artist's, with over 1,000 missing pieces. The paragraph concludes with the story of Picasso's burial place at Monsanto Victoire, showing his admiration for French post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne, and shares his final, humorous words before his death.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Picasso

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist who is known worldwide for his significant contributions to the world of art. He was a painter, sculptor, ceramicist, and more, and is most famous for co-founding the Cubist movement and inventing constructed sculpture and collage. The video discusses various lesser-known facts about his life and work, emphasizing his impact on modern art.

💡Cubism

Cubism is an early 20th-century art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture by breaking objects into geometric shapes and depicting them from multiple viewpoints. As a pioneering figure of this movement, Picasso, along with Georges Braque, developed a new way of representing reality, which had a profound influence on the course of 20th-century art.

💡Collage

A collage is a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs and paper onto a backing. Picasso is credited with the co-invention of this art form, which involves combining different elements to create new images and compositions. This technique allows for the exploration of texture, depth, and the interaction between different materials.

💡Constructed Sculpture

Constructed sculpture refers to a form of modern sculpture where the artwork is constructed from pre-existing objects or materials. Picasso is known for inventing this form of sculpture, which involves assembling found objects into a new artistic composition, thereby giving them a new meaning and aesthetic value.

💡Blue Period

The Blue Period refers to a phase in Picasso's career from 1901 to 1904, characterized by his use of shades of blue and blue-green, often depicting themes of loneliness, poverty, and social alienation. This period reflects Picasso's empathy for the marginalized and his exploration of human conditions.

💡Rose Period

The Rose Period, occurring between 1904 and 1906 in Picasso's career, is characterized by a more optimistic and warmer color palette, with an emphasis on the human figure and circus themes. This period followed the Blue Period and marked a shift in Picasso's artistic focus towards a more hopeful and lighthearted exploration of subjects.

💡Guernica

Guernica is a monumental oil painting by Picasso created in response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. It is a powerful and emotionally charged work that depicts the horrors of war and is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century art, reflecting Picasso's political and social commentary.

💡Louvre

The Louvre is one of the world's largest and most famous museums, located in Paris, France. It is renowned for its vast collection of art, including works from various civilizations and time periods. The museum's decision to display Picasso's work during his lifetime was a significant recognition of his artistic contributions.

💡Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa is a famous portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci, housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris. It is known for the subject's enigmatic smile and is considered one of the most famous and valuable paintings in the world. The theft of this painting in 1911, during which Picasso was questioned, adds to the lore of both the artwork and the artist.

💡World War II

World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations. The Nazi Party, which ruled Germany during this time, had strict guidelines for art and culture, deeming modern and abstract art as 'degenerate.' Picasso's work was not allowed to be shown publicly during this period, reflecting the political and cultural tensions of the time.

💡Paul Cezanne

Paul Cezanne was a French Post-Impressionist painter known for his unique style that laid the groundwork for the emergence of 20th-century art movements such as Cubism. His focus on form, color, and the capture of nature's essence greatly influenced other artists, including Picasso, who admired Cezanne's work and even purchased a chateau in the South of France because of its connection to the painter.

Highlights

Picasso was a multifaceted artist known for his contributions as a painter, sculptor, ceramicist, stage designer, playwright, and poet.

He is most renowned for co-founding the Cubist movement, co-inventing the collage, and inventing constructed sculpture.

Picasso's full name is exceptionally long, consisting of 23 words, but he chose to adopt his mother's maiden name for practical purposes.

Despite a lifeless birth, Picasso was revived by his uncle, who blew cigar smoke into his face.

Picasso's first word was 'pencil,' foreshadowing his future as an artistic legend.

By the age of 13, Picasso had already surpassed his father, an art professor, in artistic talent.

Picasso completed his first painting, 'Le Picador,' at just nine years old, showcasing an early indication of his artistic style.

His painting 'Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O)' is valued at $179.4 million, making it the most expensive painting in his collection.

Seven of Picasso's paintings are among the top 50 most expensive in the world.

At the time of his death, Picasso had an estimated net worth of $500 million, with a vast collection of 16,000 paintings.

The Picasso family faced a bitter legal battle over his estate for six years, spending $30 million on legal fees.

Picasso's art is categorized into various periods, including the Blue Period, Rose Period, Cubism, Neoclassicism, and Surrealism.

He was known for his love of striped shirts, which became a fashion trend and are still popular today.

Picasso was the first living artist to have his work displayed at the Louvre, marking an historic moment in the art world.

Picasso's work was deemed 'degenerate art' by the Nazis during World War II, banning it from public display.

More paintings by Picasso have been stolen than any other artist, with over 1,000 missing pieces.

Picasso is buried in Vence, France, near the mountains that inspired his idol, Paul Cezanne.

His final words, 'Drink to my health, you know I can't drink anymore,' showcase his enduring sense of humor.

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