Pablo PICASSO (1881-1973)

(Pablo Ruiz y Picasso), is the unchallenged leader of twentieth century art. The Guinness book of records lists him as the artist who has created the most work of all: about 13,500 paintings, 100,000 prints, 34,000 book illustrations and 300 sculptures or ceramics. Born in Catalonia, Spain, his father was an art teacher. A child prodigy, Picasso could render like a master, drawing perfect portrait likenesses by the time he was ten years old. Moving between Barcelona and Paris as a young adult, Picasso was familiar with members of the exciting vanguard cultures at every level -- painting, music, literature, theatre, philosophy -- and actively participated in the urban nightlife of cafes and clubs. He created his Blue Period and Pink Period works in the early years of the century, and by 1907 he invented the mysterious Cubism, a style which deconstructed and atomized physical forms into facets which moved over each other in evocation of constant change. Recognized very early as a genius and leader, Picasso was never out of the spotlight for the next seven decades as he freely moved from abstract figuration to classical realism, expressing the full range of human, animal, activity and emotion. In his later years, Picasso turned to creations of fantasy and comic invention. Working consistently in sculpture, ceramics, and the graphic arts, he continued to explore his personal vision until his death at 91.