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The Spanish artist experimented with and excelled in many mediums, from painting and drawing to sculpting and collaging.
Pablo Picasso self-portraits; Left: 18 years old, Right: 25 years old.This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please readour disclosurefor more info.
Though agifted draughtsman, Picasso did not dabble in this style for very long.
you’re free to follow Picasso’s stunning shifts in style below.
See how Pablo Picasso’s art style evolves through his lifelong series of self-portraits.
Pablo Picasso, “Self-Portrait,” 1896 (Photo:Wiki Art,PD-US)
At this point, he represented himself in a realistic style with visible brushstrokes and a plain background.
His self-portrait from 1900 was made with charcoal on paper.
Once again, he renders his face with anatomical correctness, but his lines have become looser and sketchier.
Pablo Picasso, “Self-Portrait,” c. 1900 (Photo:Wiki Art,PD-US)
His self-portrait from 1907 portrays the artist with a more stylized face, featuring his iconic almond eyes.
His face is heavily abstracted, with his almond eyes nearly overlapping one another.
He is portrayed in a seated position and rendered in blues, greens, and reds.
Pablo Picasso, “Self-Portrait,” 1901 (Photo:Wiki Art,PD-US)
Most of his body and the furniture behind him is filled with distinct patterns and lines.
Sometimes titledSelf-Portrait Facing Death, it was made with crayon on paper over the course of several months.
It features an extremely abstract representation of his face colored predominantly in green and pink.
Pablo Picasso, “Self-Portrait,” 1906 (Photo:Wiki Art,PD-US)
His eyes are wide-open as he confronts his own mortality.
His mouth is acting like agape with loosely drawn teeth filling the space.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many self-portraits did Picasso do?
Pablo Picasso, “Self-Portrait,” 1907 (Photo:Wiki Art,PD-US)
Over the course of his career, Picasso painted 30 self-portraits.
When you place them in chronological order, they serve as a visual autobiography.
What was Picasso’s last self-portrait?
Pablo Picasso, “Self-Portrait,” 1917 (Photo:Wiki Art,PD-US)
Made with crayon on paper in 1972, Picasso’s last self-portrait is aptly titledSelf Portrait Facing Death.
Pablo Picasso, “Self-Portrait,” 1965 (Photo:Wiki Art,Fair Use)
