Spanish-born Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), a child prodigy, is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Admitted to advanced classes at the Royal Academy of Art in Barcelona at the age of 15, Picasso moved to Paris in 1904, remaining there for 43 years before moving to the south of France. After moving through what is known as his blue period, characterized by images of the life of the poor painted predominantly in tones of blue, and his rose period, marked by a lighter palette and subject matter, Picasso broke from the traditions of the art world when he created Les Demoiselles dAvignon, a painting which heralded the beginnings of Cubism and a move toward modern art. In the later years of his life, Picasso created sculpture, ceramics and illustrations with a fantastical flair, including variations on works of masters like Delacroix and Velazquez. The Musee Picasso in the Marais District of Paris houses a great number of his works.
