Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881 and was the most famous painter of the 1900s. He showed an early talent for art from a young age, encouraged by his art teacher father. Picasso went through several artistic periods over his long career, including the Blue Period around 1901-1904 where he used predominantly blue colors to depict somber scenes, the Rose Period from 1904-1906 where he transitioned to warmer pinks and oranges, and Cubism from 1907-1917 where he broke objects down into geometric shapes. Later in life in 1954, Picasso befriended a young woman named Sylvette David after painting her portrait, going on to create over 40 artworks inspired by her. Picasso had an

1. By: Shari Jackson

2. Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881. He was the most famous painter of
the 1900’s.

3. Pablo Picasso could paint before he could talk. His first word was “pencil”. Pablo’s father
was an art teacher and a painter. At an early age, Picasso showed a talent for drawing and
painting. He was way ahead of his friends with his artwork, but Picasso had a hard time
learning in school.

4. Picasso’s first painting at 9 years old
(A Man Riding a Horse in a Bullfight).

5. 1901-1904, Blue Period: What colors did Picasso use? How do these paintings
make you feel? How do you think Picasso was feeling when he painted them?

6. 1904-1906, Rose Period: What colors did Picasso use during this period? Can you
compare the rose period to the blue period? How do these paintings make you feel?
How do you think Picasso felt when he painted these?

7. 1907-1917, Cubism : Picasso painted pictures made of shapes. Some of his paintings
looked like they had been cut apart and glued back together. What shapes can you
see?

8. Picasso met Sylvette David in France (1954). He asked her if she would like
to have her picture painted. They became very good friends.

9. Picasso created 40 works of art, inspired by Lydia “Sylvette” David (Corbett).

10. This is Sylvette, today. She lives in England and she is also a painter, like Picasso. Can
you notice some things that are the same about Sylvette’s and Picasso’s paintings?

11. Picasso produced more than 30,000 original works throughout his
lifetime. His style was always changing. Picasso lived to be 92 years
old. One of Picasso’s paintings sold for $155, 000,000.00 in 2013.

12. Please listen carefully as I read, Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail.
You will learn more about Picasso and his friend, Sylvette.

13. Turn and talk to your neighbor about something that you learned while
listening to this story.

14. Let’s try to work like Picasso, but be sure to give this work your own style.