Amongst its other distinctions, the provincial capital of Malaga has the honour of being the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous painters, draughtsmen and sculptors.
Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Clito Ruiz y Picasso, or Pablo for short, was born in the city on 25th October 1881, and it was here, at the age of eight that he began to paint. By the age of 14 he had begun work on ‘The First Communion’, the painting that was to mark his official entry into the world of art. Presented at the Third Exhibition of Fine Arts and Artistic Industries in Barcelona, the city where he was then living, in 1896, the painting did not, however, win a prize. In fact, it was not until after his move to Madrid, and his participation in a prestigious exhibition there, that he became a recognised artist in Spain as a result of his painting ‘Science and Charity’.
Returning once more to Barcelona, Picasso began his career by illustrating for several magazines and exhibiting his drawings. It was here that he was exposed to the influence of a number of avant-garde artists, not least Gaudi, and his traditionalist style began to be replaced by something much more innovative.
During a four year period in which Picasso spent his time between Barcelona and Paris, his work began to bear much in common with that of Toulouse Lautrec, and he then progressed into a technique known as divisionism and then into expressionism. His Blue Period, which lasted from 1901 up until 1904, during which the colour blue dominated his works, marked the transition of his style into abstract art. It was not until 1907, however, that he shared the honour of creating the cubist technique for which he is most commonly known, with Georges Braque. Both artists presented their first cubist work during the same year.
The Picasso Museum in Malaga, one of only three in the world to be dedicated entirely to the artist’s work, is located in the Palacio de Buenavista on the Calle San Augustin. It was officially opened on 27th October 2003 by the King and Queen of Spain and was visited by almost 2,000 during that first day alone.
Funded by the regional council of Andalucia, the museum contains 204 examples of the artist’s work, all of which belong to the private collections of Picasso’s daughter-in-law and grandson, who have been the driving force behind the project. The collection includes not only paintings, but drawings, sculptures and ceramic and graphic works which were created throughout the entire span of Picasso’s life and cover all of the creative periods of his work.
Just a few minutes away from the museum, you will also find Picasso’s birthplace in the Plaza de la Merced. The building has been open to the public since 1988 and with the help of exhibition rooms and pictures, helps to give an excellent view of how life was for the artist in his early years in the city.