The Picasso Blue Period (1901-1904)

The Picasso Blue Period lasted from 1901 to 1904 and named so because of the predominance of the color blue in his paintings from that time. According to Picasso himself, he began "painting in Blue" when his good friend Carlos Casagemas committed suicide in a Paris Cafe on February 18, 1901.

At that time in his life, the young Picasso struggled to earn a living as an artist and traveled between his home and Spain and Paris, France, taking his painting supplies with him. Many of his subjects included beggars and prostitutes. His subjects are often portrayed as weak, thin and emaciated. Blindness was a common theme during this period of time as well.

Picasso Blue Period Paintings

The most famous painting from this period is "The Old Guitarist". Other paintings from this period include:
La Vie
The Frugal Repast
The Blindman's Meal
Celestina
Portrait of Soler
Las dos Hermanas