The 10 most important works by Pablo Picasso

The 10 most important works by Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso, like Henri Matisse and Marcel Duchamp, is considered one of the artists responsible for the art revolution of the early 19th century. Showing talent from a young age, he was a follower of the realist style during his childhood and adolescence. However, he changed his aesthetics in early adulthood, after different experiments, adhering to Cubism — a movement of which he was a co-founder. Taking into account the painter's artistic trajectory, and its relevance to the history of art, Bula selected his most relevant works. The selection includes paintings such as “Guernica” (1937), one of the artist's best-known works, “The Dream” (1932), “Self-Portrait” (1907) and “Three Musicians” (1921).
Guernica (1937)

The panel painted by Picasso for the Paris International Exhibition, and a great icon of his legacy, measures 350 by 776 cm. It depicts the bombing of the Spanish city of the same name in 1937 by German planes. The colors used, black, white and shades of beige and blue, symbolize the suffering of the Spanish people during the attack. The painting is on display at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid.
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907)

“Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” is one of the works that revolutionized the history of art, providing the basis for cubism and abstract painting. Inspired by the brothel on Avignon Street in Barcelona, ​​the painting depicts five naked women who transform into geometric figures with irregular, broken line contours — a major milestone in cubist aesthetics. It is on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Life (1903)

It is believed that the work portrays Picasso's friend, Carlos Casagemas (on the left), who died in 1901. The man is among three women, two of them nude, which lends a certain air of sensuality to the scene. The blue tone, also present in other paintings by the artist, represents the period of financial difficulties that Picasso went through when he first arrived in Paris — in addition to the grief over the death of his friend. The painting is on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art in the United States.

Self-Portrait (1907)

Picasso's self-portrait is considered the work that foresaw the Cubist movement. The lines are thick and fast, and the contrast with the background gives the figure a three-dimensional sense, which did not exist until then. The bright and cheerful colors are in keeping with the youthful and expressive look that characterizes Picasso's portrait. The work is in the National Gallery of Prague, in the Czech Republic.
Seated Bather (1930)

It is speculated that the woman portrayed in the image, sitting by the sea, is Marie-Thérèse Walter, the lover with whom Picasso had a daughter in 1935. The work is said to be a tribute to the nudity of the young woman, depicted only in a bathing suit, who supposedly served as inspiration for the artist. The painting marks the artist's adoption of light and dark reliefs, and is available at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Dora Maar with Cat (1937)

One of Picasso's best-known works, as it is a great representative of cubism, “Dora Maar with Cat” represents one of the painter's most famous lovers. The painting is considered a complete and dynamic representation of the portraits made by the artist during the 1930s and 40s. Auctioned in 2006 for 95.2 million dollars, it is part of an unknown private collection. Maternity (1901)

“Maternity” is described as the most important work of Picasso’s “blue period.” Depicting a mother breastfeeding a baby, experts define it as a symbol of the “emotional strength of motherhood, despite the coldness of the bluish tones used by the artist.” It was sold for 24 million dollars in New York in 1988. The private collection it is part of is unknown.

Still Life with Bull Skulls (1942)

The painting was painted during World War II, which deeply moved Picasso. It depicts the skull of a bull, which appears to have an expression of horror and fear. The figure in contrast with the strong colors, in bluish and violet tones, is considered an allegory of the feeling of impotence that took hold of the artist. The work is housed in the Kunstsammlung Museum in Germany. The Dream (1932)

The work is an erotic portrait of Picasso's lover Marie-Thérèse Walter, who was 22 at the time. The two began their relationship when Marie-Thérèse was just 17. The young woman lived across the street from the house where the painter lived with his wife, Olga Koklova. The painting was purchased in 2013 by American businessman Steven A. Cohen for a record sum of 120 million euros, the highest price ever paid for a painting by the artist.
Three Musicians (1921)


“Three Musicians”, or “Three Musicians” in Portuguese, is the name given to two versions of the same work. The inspiration came during a trip Picasso took to Fontainebleau, France. The paintings are considered to represent the style known as “Synthetic Cubism”, marked by the use of strong colors and more decorative forms. One painting is available at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, while the other is located at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, also in the United States.
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