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Pablo Picasso the famous painter was born in Malaga.

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Picasso's Paintings

Pablo Picasso remains renowned for endlessly reinventing himself, switching between styles so radically different that his life's work seems to be the product of five or six great artists rather than just one. Of his penchant for style diversity, Picasso insisted that his varied work was not indicative of radical shifts throughout his career, but, rather, of his dedication to objectively evaluating for each piece the form and technique best suited to achieve his desired effect. "Whenever I wanted to say something, I said it the way I believed I should," he explained. "Different themes inevitably require different methods of expression. This does not imply either evolution or progress; it is a matter of following the idea one wants to express and the way in which one wants to express it."

Blue Period: 'Blue Nude' and 'The Old Guitarist'

Art critics and historians typically break Pablo Picasso's adult career into distinct periods, the first of which lasted from 1901 to 1904 and is called his "Blue Period," after the color that dominated nearly all of his paintings over these years. At the turn of the 20th century, Picasso moved to Paris, France - the cultural center of European art - to open his own studio. Lonely and deeply depressed over the death of his close friend, Carlos Casagemas, he painted scenes of poverty, isolation and anguish, almost exclusively in shades of blue and green. Picasso's most famous paintings from the Blue Period include "Blue Nude," "La Vie" and "The Old Guitarist," all three of which were completed in 1903.

In contemplation of Picasso and his Blue Period, Symbolist writer and critic Charles Morice once asked, "Is this frighteningly precocious child not fated to bestow the consecration of a masterpiece on the negative sense of living, the illness from which he more than anyone else seems to be suffering?"

Rose Period: 'Gertrude Stein' and 'Two Nudes'

By 1905, Picasso had largely overcome the depression that had previously debilitated him, and the artistic manifestation of Picasso's improved spirits was the introduction of warmer colors-including beiges, pinks and reds-in what is known as his "Rose Period" (1904-06). Not only was he madly in love with a beautiful model, Fernande Olivier, he was newly prosperous thanks to the generous patronage of art dealer Ambroise Vollard. His most famous paintings from these years include"Family at Saltimbanques" (1905), "Gertrude Stein" (1905-06) and "Two Nudes" (1906).

Cubism: 'Les Desmoiselles d'Avignon'

Cubism was an artistic style pioneered by Pablo Picasso and his friend and fellow painter, Georges Braque. In Cubist paintings, objects are broken apart and reassembled in an abstracted form, highlighting their composite geometric shapes and depicting them from multiple, simultaneous viewpoints in order to create physics-defying, collage-like effects. At once destructive and creative, Cubism shocked, appalled and fascinated the art world.

In 1907, Picasso produced a painting that today is considered the precursor and inspiration of Cubism: "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon." A chilling depiction of five nude prostitutes, abstracted and distorted with sharp geometric features and stark blotches of blues, greens and grays, the work was unlike anything he or anyone else had ever painted before and would profoundly influence the direction of art in the 20th century.

"It made me feel as if someone was drinking gasoline and spitting fire," Braque said, explaining that he was shocked when he first viewed Picasso's "Les Demoiselles." Braque quickly became intrigued with Cubism, seeing the new style as a revolutionary movement. French writer and critic Max Jacob, a good friend of both Picasso and painter Juan Gris, called Cubism "the 'Harbinger Comet' of the new century," stating, "Cubism is ... a picture for its own sake. Literary Cubism does the same thing in literature, using reality merely as a means and not as an end."

Picasso's early Cubist paintings, known as his "Analytic Cubist" works, include "Three Women" (1907), "Bread and Fruit Dish on a Table" (1909) and "Girl with Mandolin"(1910). His later Cubist works are distinguished as "Synthetic Cubism" for moving even further away from artistic typicalities of the time, creating vast collages out of a great number of tiny, individual fragments. These paintings include "Still Life with Chair Caning" (1912), "Card Player" (1913-14) and "Three Musicians" (1921).

Classical Period: 'Three Women at the Spring'

Picasso's works between 1918 and 1927 are categorized as part of his "Classical Period," a brief return to Realism in a career otherwise dominated by experimentation. The outbreak of World War I ushered in the next great change in Picasso's art. He grew more somber and, once again, preoccupied with the depiction of reality. His most interesting and important works from this period include"Three Women at the Spring" (1921), "Two Women Running on the Beach/The Race" (1922) and "The Pipes of Pan" (1923).

Surrealism: 'Guernica'

From 1927 onward, Picasso became caught up in a new philosophical and cultural movement known as Surrealism, the artistic manifestation of which was a product of his own Cubism. Picasso's most well-known Surrealist painting, deemed one of the greatest paintings of all time, was completed in 1937, during the Spanish Civil War: "Guernica." After German bombers supporting Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces carried out a devastating aerial attack on the Basque town of Guernica on April 26, 1937, Picasso, outraged by the bombing and the inhumanity of war, painted this work of art. In black, white and grays, the painting is a Surrealist testament to the horrors of war, and features a minotaur and several human-like figures in various states of anguish and terror. "Guernica" remains one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history.

Later Works: 'Self Portrait Facing Death'

In contrast to the dazzling complexity of Synthetic Cubism, Picasso's later paintings display simple, childlike imagery and crude technique. Touching on the artistic validity of these later works, Picasso once remarked upon passing a group of school kids in his old age, "When I was as old as these children, I could draw like Raphael, but it took me a lifetime to learn to draw like them."

In the aftermath of World War II, Picasso became more overtly political, joining the Communist Party. He was twice honored with the International Lenin Peace Prize, first in 1950 and again in 1961. By this point in his life, he was also an international celebrity, the world's most famous living artist. While paparazzi chronicled his every move, however, few paid attention to his art during this time. Picasso continued to create art and maintain an ambitious schedule in his later years, superstitiously believing that work would keep him alive. Picasso created the epitome of his later work, "Self Portrait Facing Death," using pencil and crayon, a year before his death. The autobiographical subject, drawn with crude technique, appears as something between a human and an ape, with a green face and pink hair. Yet the expression in his eyes, capturing a lifetime of wisdom, fear and uncertainty, is the unmistakable work of a master at the height of his powers.

What Was Picasso's Full Name?

Pablo Picasso's gargantuan full name, which honors a variety of relatives and saints, is Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso.

When and Where Was Pablo Picasso Born?

Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881, in Málaga, Spain.

Early Life and Education

Pablo Picasso's mother was Doña Maria Picasso y Lopez. His father was Don José Ruiz Blasco, a painter and art teacher. A serious and prematurely world-weary child, the young Picasso possessed a pair of piercing, watchful black eyes that seemed to mark him destined for greatness. "When I was a child, my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk you'll end up as the pope,'" he later recalled. "Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."

Though he was a relatively poor student, Picasso displayed a prodigious talent for drawing at a very young age. According to legend, his first words were "piz, piz," his childish attempt at saying "lápiz," the Spanish word for pencil. Picasso's father began teaching him to draw and paint when he was a child, and by the time he was 13 years old, his skill level had surpassed his father's. Soon, Picasso lost all desire to do any schoolwork, choosing to spend the school days doodling in his notebook instead. "For being a bad student, I was banished to the 'calaboose,' a bare cell with whitewashed walls and a bench to sit on," he later remembered. "I liked it there, because I took along a sketch pad and drew incessantly ... I could have stayed there forever, drawing without stopping."

In 1895, when Picasso was 14 years old, his family moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he quickly applied to the city's prestigious School of Fine Arts. Although the school typically only accepted students several years his senior, Picasso's entrance exam was so extraordinary that he was granted an exception and admitted. Nevertheless, Picasso chafed at the School of Fine Arts' strict rules and formalities, and began skipping class so that he could roam the streets of Barcelona, sketching the city scenes he observed.

In 1897, a 16-year-old Picasso moved to Madrid to attend the Royal Academy of San Fernando. However, he again became frustrated with his school's singular focus on classical subjects and techniques. During this time, he wrote to a friend: "They just go on and on about the same old stuff: Velázquez for painting, Michelangelo for sculpture." Once again, Picasso began skipping class to wander the city and paint what he observed: gypsies, beggars and prostitutes, among other things.

In 1899, Picasso moved back to Barcelona and fell in with a crowd of artists and intellectuals who made their headquarters at a café called El Quatre Gats ("The Four Cats"). Inspired by the anarchists and radicals he met there, Picasso made his decisive break from the classical methods in which he had been trained, and began what would become a lifelong process of experimentation and innovation.

Wives, Girlfriends and Children

A lifelong womanizer, Picasso had countless relationships with girlfriends, mistresses, muses and prostitutes, marrying only twice. He wed a ballerina named Olga Khokhlova in 1918, and they remained together for nine years, parting ways in 1927. They had a son together, Paulo. In 1961, at the age of 79, he married his second wife, Jacqueline Roque. Roque committed suicide in 1986.

While married to Khokhlova, he began a long-term relationship with Marie-Thérèse Walter. They had a daughter, Maya, together. Walter committed suicide after Picasso died. Between marriages, in 1935, Picasso met Dora Maar, a fellow artist, on the set of Jean Renoir's film Le Crime de Monsieur Lange (released in 1936). The two soon embarked upon a partnership that was both romantic and professional. Their relationship lasted more than a decade, during and after which time Maar struggled with depression; they parted ways in 1946, three years after Picasso began having an affair with a woman named Françoise Gilot, with whom he had two children, son Claude and daughter Paloma. They parted ways in 1953. Gilot would go on to marry scientist Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine.

Picasso fathered four children: Paulo (Paul), Maya, Claude and Paloma Picasso.

When Did Pablo Picasso Die?

Pablo Picasso died on April 8, 1973, at the age of 91, in Mougins, France.

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Pablo Picasso's 1905 portrait, "Fillette à la corbeille fleurie," sold for $115 million at a Christie's auction, stirring controversy over a young girl's sexualized depiction. The record-breaking auction included pieces from Paul Gauguin, Edouard Manet, Henri Matisse and Claude Monet.

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1. sea food is often included in cuisine of Malaga.

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1. Contains about 36  total museums.
2. Malaga has a large culture variety and it is also considered the most diverse city in the south of Spain.

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You are It | Trends, Design and Travel Blog

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Malaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol. They say that it is "the new Barcelona", due to its large cultural variety; it is considered the most cosmopolitan city in the south of Spain.

It is a city where its strong historical significance fuses together with its modern and avant-garde character, with a very special charm.

Malaga offers a great variety for tourists, as you can enjoy its extensive beaches, its many historical monuments, its diverse museums, and a wide variety of leisure activities for all tastes.

This, together with its privileged climate, which you can enjoy all year round, makes Malaga one of the major tourist destinations in Spain.

The historical centre of Malaga is practically all pedestrianised; therefore, you can enjoy a pleasant walk and see all the main sites of interest (stopping from time to time to enjoy the excellent food). But if you prefer, you can also go on a bike or even a Segway.

If you're thinking about visiting Malaga, here is a list of the ten must-see places to visit during your stay:
1 - Gibralfaro Castle
The origins of the castle can be traced back to the Phoenicians, who constructed a lighthouse inside, and from where the castle gets its name (faro is Spanish for lighthouse).

Together with la Alcazaba, it forms a fortified site which extends along the hill. From the top of Gibralfaro Castle you will get excellent panoramic views that allow you to get a better idea of the size and location of the city.

On clear days it is even possible to make out some mountains on the Rif mountain range (in Africa) and the Strait of Gibraltar.

2 - La Alcazaba

La Alcazaba is a fortress from the Arab period built in the eleventh century. Its military aspect makes it one of the most important Islamic constructions in Spain.

The lattice framework of the internal defences is impressive, although its main defence comes from its advantageous location, as together with Gibralfaro, these are the two points in Malaga from where you have a complete view of the city.
3 - Calle Larios
This street, the Andalusian equivalent of Fifth Avenue, is the fifth most expensive street to go shopping in the whole of Spain.

Calle Larios or calle Marqués de Larios is where the main celebrations of the city take place, such as for example, Easter, Carnival, the Malaga Film Festival, la Feria de Agosto (August Fair) etc.

During summer you can walk along the street without suffering too much from the heat as it is covered by canopies hung from building to building creating a pleasant shade.
4 - Atarazanas Market
Originally this building, from the Nasrid period, was a naval workshop where they built and repaired ships, which gives the market its name as Atarazanas means shipyard. Now, only a marble door remains from this period.

It is also known as "Mercado Central" (Central Market) the current building is by the architect Joaquín de Rucoba, and was built between 1876 and 1879.

It is worth visiting to appreciate its unique architecture with a forged steal exterior, a huge stained glass window at the back or the impressive marble door.
5 - The Roman Theatre
This theatre, located on calle Alcazabilla, was discovered in 1951 when working on the adjacent gardens of what was then the House of Culture.

You also have the option to visit the Centre of Interpretation of the Roman Theatre, which allows you to see the life and traditions from the period.
6 - Malaga Cathedral or "Manquita"
This majestic building is the main monument to visit in the historical centre.

It is known as " Manquita " (one-armed) as it was opened without the southern tower.

Its unique appearance, both inside and outside, is because it was built during a period of architectural transition, and with many interruptions, which led to corners of very different styles that go from the Gothic to the Renaissance.
7 - Muelle Uno
Considered one of the main ports on the Mediterranean for its volume of traffic in passengers and trade, Muelle Uno is one of the main must-see sites.
8 - La Malagueta beach
This dark sanded beach and over a kilometre in length, is just 10 minutes from the city centre, which makes it easy to get to at any time.

Along the beach you find small areas with palm trees, and various beach bars where you can enjoy the traditional espetos de sardinas (sardine skewers) and other typical dishes from the region. And in summer you can even enjoy an open air cinema.
9 - La Alameda Park
La Alameda Park is a garden with many subtropical species that runs parallel to the port, between Plaza de la Marina and the Tres Gracias fountain.

650 metres in length, it runs lengthwise along the main street of the city, which makes it an ideal place to walk at any time of day.
10 - Museums
Malaga has a total of 36 museums, the majority of which can be found in the historic centre. This means Malaga is one of the cities with the most museums in its historic centre and makes it impossible to visit just one museum. But amongst the most important, it is worth pointing out the Malaga Museum, the Picasso Museum, Jorge Rando Museum and the Pompidou Museum.

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10 reasons why you should visit Malaga | You are It

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Malaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol. They say that it is "the new Barcelona", due to its large cultural variety; it is considered the most cosmopolitan city in the south of Spain. It is a city where its strong historical significance fuses together with its modern and avant-garde character, with a very special charm.

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Malaga is located in Spain

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1. Malaga is the southernmost large city in Europe
2. Malaga is one of the world's oldest cities.

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In anticipation of an upcoming visit to Malaga, Spain, we researched some interesting facts about Spain's sixth largest city located on the coast of the Mediterranean.

15 Interesting Facts About Malaga, Spain

1. Located just 80 miles north of Africa, Malaga is the southernmost large city in Europe.

2. Malaga is one of the world's oldest cities. When the city was founded by the Phoenicians in 770 BC, it was known as Malaka.
3. From the 6th century BC, Malaga was ruled by Ancient Carthage.
4. Today one of the busiest seaports on the Mediterranean, the Port of Malaga has operated continuously since at least 600 BC.

5. The Roman Republic took control of the city in 218 BC. Malaca, as it was called in Latin, later became a part of the Roman Empire.

6. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was under Islamic rule, and known as Malaqah for 800 years.
7. Malaga was conquered by Christian forces in August, 1487 during the Reconquista.
8. Today the historic center of Malaga contains a variety of archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras covering more than 3,000 years.

9. Malaga's Moorish Alcazaba fortress dates from the eighth century. The fortress overlooks the city's restored Roman Amphitheater.

10. Malaga boasts a second Moorish castle - the Gibralfaro - from the 14th century. It offers spectacular views over the city´s old town and port.

11. Artist Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga. Casa Natal, Picasso's birthplace, is open to the public and gives a view of the artist's early years in Malaga.

12. The Museo Picasso Malaga, opened in 2003 in the Buenavista Palace, features 285 works by Picasso donated by his family. Museum visitors can also see Malaga's oldest architectural remains (walls of the Phoenician city) in the cellar.

13. Actor Antonio Banderas (known for his roles in Desperado , The Mask Of Zorro and Spy Kids , as well as the voice of Puss in Boots in Shrek 2 and sequels) was born in Malaga on August 10th, 1960. The actor is also known for his Antonio Banderas fragrances for both men and women.

14. Malaga enjoys an average of 300 days of sunshine and 50 days of rain each year.

15. Thanks in part of the Malaga Mountains blocking cold weather from the north, Malaga has the warmest winters of all European cities with a population of half a million or more. The average temperature between December and February is 63-64 °F.

Learn more about Malaga with these books:
City Maps Malaga Spain
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In anticipation of an upcoming visit to Malaga, Spain, we researched some interesting facts about Spain's sixth largest city located on the coast of the Mediterranean. 1. Located just 80 miles north of Africa, Malaga is the southernmost large city in Europe. 2. Malaga is one of the world's oldest cities.