1881
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomucéno Maria de los Remedios Crispín Crispriano Santísima Trinidad was born in Málaga on October 25th as the first of three children of Don José Ruiz Blasco and Doña María Picasso y Lopez. His father worked as a painter, art teacher at the local school of arts and crafts and conservator at the city’s museum.
1895
Joined the art academy in Barcelona, where the family had moved due to the father’s appointment as professor for figure drawing at the art academy
1897
Passed the entrance examination of the Royal Academy San Fernando in Madrid which he left in winter again
1899
Worked as a painter and illustrator for magazines
1900
Participated in the Paris Universal Exposition presenting his painting “Dernier moments”. Publication of drawings though papers and journals in Barcelona. First trip to Paris
1901
Started to sign his works with “Picasso”, his mother’s name. First exhibition in Paris in June
1901-1904
Development of his first independent, melancholic style – the so called “Blue period” – as a reaction to his friend’s Carlos Casagemas’s suicide
1904
Relocation to Paris where he met Fernande Olivier who first became his model and later his lover
1905-1907
“Rose Period”. First etchings and copper engravings. Acquaintance with George Braque and start of a fruitful cooperation as a result of which a close friendship developed
1908-1917
Fundamental change of style which was especially influenced by African sculptures from the museum of ethnology. Co-founder of the modern art movement of Cubism in companion with Georges Braque
1911-1914
First “papiers collés” by Braque. Assumption of the technique by Picasso. Start of introducing paper and newspaper cut-outs, labels, advertising brochure texts and other materials into his art
1915
Besides his cubistic works, Picasso created realistic pencil portraits
1916
Picasso designed the costumes and sets for the ballet “Parade” in Paris
1917
Made acquaintance with the solo dancer Olga Koklowa at the ballet’s premiere on Mai 18th
1918
Marriage with Olga on July 12th
1920
At the Côte d’Azur, he created colourful gouaches and landscapes in “neoclassic” style
1921
Birth of his son Paolo
1925
Participation in the first Surrealist group exhibition in November
1927
Acquaintance with Marie-Térèse Walter who became his lover and model
1928-30
Work on sculptures and wire constructions in company with the Spanish sculptor Julio Gonzalez
1934
Extensive travel through Spain
1935
Due to Marie-Térèse’s pregnancy, the relationship between Picasso and Olga broke up
1936
Picasso was appointed director of the Prado by the republicans in gratitude for his support as well as of his refusal of Franco after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War on July 18th
1937
By order of the republican government of Spain, Picasso painted the mural “Guernica” for the Spanish pavilion at the Paris International Exposition
1939
Retrospective “Picasso: Forty Years of his Art” with 344 presented art works at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
1941
The surrealist theatre play “Le Désir attrapé par la Queue” was created
1944
Joined the Communist Party in France as a result of which his artistic oeuvre and political orientation was strongly criticised
1948
Was awarded the Medal for Merit by the French government
1949
His lithography “dove” (La Paloma) became apparent worldwide, after it was chosen as emblem for the First International Peace Conference’s in Paris
1950
Honorary citizen of Vallauris
1955
Death of his first spouse Olga in Cannes
1961
Marriage with Jacqueline Roque in Vallauris
1963
On March 6th, the Museu Picasso, which would receive the majority of the artist’s Estate later on, was opened in Barcelona
1971
Honorary citizen of the city of Paris
1973
Picasso died at the age of 91 on April 8th, 1973 in his villa in Mougins