Pablo Picasso’s First Exhibition

Pablo Picasso is remembered as one of the most famous painters in history. Just like any famous painter, he started his first exhibition as a newcomer.

The Exhibition

On 24 June 1901, Picasso held the first major exhibition of his paintings. The exhibition took place in Paris, France.

At the time, Picasso was only 19 years old. However, even at a young age, he had already shown his natural talent as an artist.

Picasso had actually been a part of art exhibitions previously. However, this was the first exhibition that he held on his own without any help and his first at an established commercial gallery. In fact, he had held exhibitions for his art since he was 13 years old, though this was a much more significant milestone for the painter.

As the time for the exhibition approached, Picasso was very eager to show off his skills at the gallery. He even arrived in Paris a few months early to prepare for the show. Rumors state that he worked endlessly during this time, producing about two canvases per day.

As the exhibition went on, Picasso amazed many fans with his work. It is believed that the painter worked restlessly throughout the entire show, and did not stop until the final minute of the exhibition.

The First Painting

The exhibition included 75 pieces of Picasso’s work. The first piece listed was titled “Yo” (meaning “I” or “me” in Spanish) and was a self-portrait of Picasso. This painting was one of the most awe-inspiring at the show and proved to be a confident declaration of Picasso’s arrival into the art scene.

Conclusion

The exhibition in Paris had gone well for Picasso and helped get his name into the art scene. From there, the young painter would skyrocket into fame, and would soon be recognized as one of the most well-known painters of the 20th century.