PABLO PICASSO

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. Together with Georges Braque, he is considered a founder of Cubism. It is estimated that Picasso created about 13,500 paintings and sketches, 100,000 engravings and prints, 34,000 illustrations, and 300 sculptures and ceramic works. His artistic career began early. Picasso's father, José Ruiz, was a painter and taught Picasso various techniques, such as drawing and oil painting. He studied at the Academy of Arts in Madrid but did not complete his studies. In 1901, he moved to Paris, where he met other prominent artists and began to develop his unique style. His work can be divided into several periods – the Blue Period, the Rose Period, the African-influenced Period, Analytical Cubism, and Synthetic Cubism. Picasso had a rich personal life, was married twice, and had several significant relationships with women who often inspired his art. In May 2015, his painting Les Femmes d'Alger (Women of Algiers) was auctioned at a New York auction house for $179.4 million (approximately 4.4 billion CZK), making it the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction. He is among the most significant figures in 20th-century art.