11 Things You Didn’t Know About Pablo Picasso

Knowledge can be gained at any age. After having a detailed study on topics there are things unknown to us. So, we at Abirpothi present before you the lesser known facts about artists around the world.

“For being a bad student I was banished to the \’calaboose\’ – a bare cell with whitewashed walls and a bench to sit on. I liked it there, because I took along a sketch pad and drew incessantly. I could have stayed there forever drawing without stopping”                                                                        

– Pablo Picasso

Pablo Ruyz Picasso

Pablo Ruyz Picasso was a Spanish painter, printmaker, ceramicist and theatre designer, sculptor and poet. He is considered a co-founder of cubism, a co-inventor of collage, the inventor of constructed sculpture, and the world\’s most prolific painter. Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881. Pablo Picasso is probably the most important figure of the 20th century, in terms of art, and art movements that occurred over this period. Before the age of 50, the Spanish-born artist had become the most well-known name in modern art, with the most distinct style and eye for artistic creation. There had been no other artists, prior to Picasso, who had such an impact on the art world, or had a mass following of fans and critics alike, as he did. He has left behind an indelible legacy not just in works like Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) and Guernica (1937), but also the inspiration he has provided to generations of artists. After a long and prolific career, he died on April 8, 1973.

11 lesser-known facts about Pablo Ruyz Picasso

1. After complications in labour, Picasso (who was extremely small for a child) was believed to be stillborn and left on a side table while medical staff tended to his mother. It was only when his uncle, who was a doctor, blew cigar smoke and he began crying that they realised the mistake and his uncle saved his life.

   

2. Picasso\’s full name has 23 words. His real name is Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso.
3. When Picasso was 13 years old, his father quit painting because he thought his son was already a better painter than himself.

   

4. He had many mistresses. His requirement for them was that they had to be submissive, and they had to be shorter than he was – he stood at just 5 feet, 4 inches.
5. Picasso would tend to carry around a pistol that he loaded with blanks. He would use it to fire at people that he thought were boring or anyone who insulted Cézanne, who was a French artist and impressionist.

   

6. While Germany was occupying Paris in World War ll, Picasso’s paintings were banned by the Nazis because they thought they didn’t follow the rules of art.
7. Impressively enough, Picasso holds a world record for the most pieces of art created by one person. Over 78 years, he produced over 13,500 paintings or designs, 100,000 prints or engravings, 34,000 book illustrations, and 300 sculptures or ceramics. This brings the grand total to over 147,800 pieces of art. 

   

8. Picasso\’s paintings were stolen more than any other artist in the world. Today there are more than 1100 Picasso pieces that are listed as lost or stolen.
9. In 1911 Picasso was one of the main suspects in stealing “La Joconde”, the famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, from the Louvre Museum in Paris (France). Police believed that Picasso and the poet friend Guillaume Apollinaire were the thieves.
10. When a Nazi officer saw Guernica he asked Picasso “was you who did it?” and Picasso is said to have responded, “No, you did!”.

    

11. Picasso’s final words were “Drink to me, drink to my health. You know I can’t drink anymore.”