Time for a Blast from the Past: A Brief History Lesson for Gen Z and Millennials
March 19, 2025
Who was Pablo Picasso?
Full birth name was:
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso.
It’s quite a long name! Over 100. Take a moment to relax, pour yourself a cup of your favorite brew, and then take a closer look – let’s count them together!
Alright, Gen Z, let’s talk about Picasso – not just the name you see on art prints, but the real deal.
Picasso: The Ultimate Name Drop (and Why He Didn’t Use It All)
Imagine your full name being a whole sentence. That’s basically what Pablo Picasso dealt with. His full birth name was: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad 1 Ruiz y Picasso.
Yeah, try fitting that on a name tag. He dropped the “Ruiz” (his father’s name) and stuck with “Picasso” (his mother’s name) because it sounded cooler ( like this guy already), and more unique, like a catchy artist’s handle. It’s like going by your online username instead of your government name.
From Art School Dropout to Legend
Picasso’s dad was an art teacher, so he was basically born into the art world. He was a prodigy, like, drawing realistically as a kid. He went to art school in Madrid, but, like many creative geniuses, formal education wasn’t really his vibe. He was too busy experimenting and breaking the rules. He chose painting because it was his natural talent, and it was a way to express his unique perspective of the world.
Personal Life: Drama, Love, and Lots of Art
Picasso’s personal life was… complicated. He had numerous relationships, including:
*Marriages: He married Olga Khokhlova, a ballerina. *Mistresses: He had many mistresses, including Marie-Thérèse Walter, Dora Maar, and Françoise Gilot. These relationships heavily influenced his *Religion: He was baptized Catholic, but he wasn’t known to be particularly religious or attend regular services as an adult. His art reflected his personal feelings and experience more than religious doctrine.
He was a passionate, intense guy, and that came through in his art and his relationships. Think of him as the ultimate “it’s complicated” relationship status.
Family Ties
Father: José Ruiz y Blasco, an art teacher.
Mother: María Picasso y López.
Sisters: Lola and Conchita. Conchita died at a young age, which deeply affected Picasso.
His family, especially his father, played a significant role in his early artistic development.
Why Those Weird Shapes?
Picasso didn’t just paint pretty pictures. He wanted to show the world in a new way. He’s famous for Cubism, which is like looking at something from multiple angles at once. He basically took reality, broke it into pieces, and put it back together in a totally different way.
His Death
Pablo Picasso died on April 8, 1973, at the age of 91, due to a heart attack. In the years leading up to his death:
1. Health issues: Picasso suffered from various health problems, including arthritis, hearing loss, and heart disease.
2. Personal struggles: He experienced depression and anxiety, partly due to his complicated personal life and multiple relationships.
3. Artistic output: Despite his health issues, Picasso continued to create art until his death, producing thousands of works.
4. Family conflicts: Picasso’s family life was marked by tension, particularly with his son Claude and his wife Jacqueline Roque.
5. Global recognition: Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Picasso’s fame and influence continued to grow, solidifying his position as one of the most important artists of the 20th century.
Picasso passed away at his home in Mougins, France, surrounded by his family.
He experimented with different mediums, including sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking, but painting remained his primary form of expression. He chose the mediums that best allowed him to communicate his artistic vision. He was always pushing boundaries and trying new things, which is why his art is still so relevant today.
Very Nice Article