Culture
Pablo Picasso: 145 years since the birth of the genius who changed the course of modern art
The Spanish painter was born on Oct. 25, 1881, in Málaga. From the Blue Period to Cubism and “Guernica,” his work remains a landmark of the 20th century.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 25, 2026, 10:00 · Updated 18:40 · 1 min read
In brief
- Picasso worked in painting, sculpture, printmaking and ceramics, creating thousands of works.
- With Georges Braque he founded Cubism, which broke objects down into geometric forms seen from several viewpoints.
- “Guernica,” from 1937, became one of the most powerful anti-war symbols.
On Oct. 25, 1881, in Málaga, Spain, Pablo Picasso was born, the artist who would change the course of modern art. Today marks 145 years since his birth, an occasion ATSH marked with a profile of the painter's life and legacy.
Picasso did not limit himself to a single medium: he worked in painting, sculpture, printmaking and ceramics, leaving behind thousands of works. Over his long career his style changed several times, opening new paths for entire generations of artists. The ATSH profile describes him as the genius who changed the course of modern art.
From the Blue Period to Cubism
In the early 1900s Picasso went through his so-called Blue Period, dominated by blue tones and solitary figures, to express sadness and poverty. This phase is linked to the suicide of his friend Carlos Casagemas in 1901.
Later, together with Georges Braque, he founded Cubism, a movement that broke objects down into geometric forms and showed them from several viewpoints at once. This revolution in ways of seeing deeply influenced 20th-century art.
“Guernica,” a cry against war
One of his best-known works is “Guernica” (1937), which depicts the bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War and became a powerful symbol against war. Picasso died on April 8, 1973, in France, at the age of 91, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire artists around the world.
