Picasso was a child prodigy; his father, an artist himself, recognized the talent of his son at a very early age and encouraged the boy's career as an artist. He later become renowned as a painter and sculptor, most well-known for co-founding the Cubist movement. Cubism is a form of art where objects are "cut up" into simple forms of geometry and then reassembled so that the artwork looks abstract, when in fact it depicts multiple viewpoints of the subject.
Overview of Picasso's Life in Barcelona
The best place to begin following Picasso's art in Spain is the Museu Picasso (Picasso Museum) in Barcelona. Although the museum is perhaps not the best in terms of its collection of famous pieces, it exhibits Picasso's art chronologically. Especially recommended for those who are not very familiar with Picasso's work, one can see how Picasso's art evolved, the different styles he used, and the recurring themes that he used throughout his life.
Although not born in Barcelona, Picasso spent key moments of his life in this city and personally sought to create this museum when he was still alive. The museum also does an excellent job in showing what kind of work inspired Picasso.
Tracing Picasso's Roots in Malaga
Malaga, a seaside city southwest of Barcelona, is the birthplace of Picasso. There, one can visit the house Picasso lived in his youth (Casa Natal), which has a very small gallery of Picasso paintings and drawings, and some artifacts from his house.
A few minutes' walk from here is the Picasso Museum of Malaga. Right next to historical attractions such as the Alcazaba Fortress and Malaga Cathedral, the structure itself is quite impressive example of sixteenth century Andalusian architecture. The collection is large and diverse, but one will find more of Picasso's drawings and sculptures than found in other museums.
The Best of Picasso in Madrid
Guernica (1937), along with Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (The Ladies of Avignon, 1907), is considered one of Picasso's greatest works. While the latter is at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Guernica graces the halls of the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. The painting is Picasso's portrayal of the bombing of the city by Germany during the Spanish Civil War.
It was painted in the height of his career, a commission by the Spanish Republican government to display at the 1937 World Fair in Paris. The painting depicts the suffering of war and its affect on innocent civilians-- even though it is a still painting, the distorted face of the people and the bulging eyes of the horses fill the long hall with silent screams.
The Reina Sofia Museum also houses many other Picasso works, including his drawings of minotaurs, sculptures, and paintings that were influenced by the tragedy of the Spanish War.
 |
 |
