Picasso was known for his eccentricities, and one of the most unusual involved him carrying a revolver loaded with blanks! Picasso would often use this revolver to “shoot” at people who asked him about the meaning behind his work. His reasoning? He believed art should speak for itself and didn’t need to be explained—so if you asked too many questions, you’d get a playful “bang!”

There’s also a legendary story involving this revolver and Paul Cézanne (though some versions mention Paul Gauguin). Picasso had an almost reverent admiration for Cézanne and saw him as one of the forefathers of modern art. In a fit of artistic fervor, he’s rumored to have fired his blank-loaded revolver in the air while shouting “Cézanne is the father of us all!” Whether it’s true or just another Picasso myth, it perfectly captures his bold, rebellious, and theatrical personality!

First Word Was “Pencil”

Picasso’s first word wasn’t "mama" or "papa"—it was "pencil" ("piz" in Spanish). It seems Picasso was destined for a life of art from the very start, and his artistic talent began showing itself at a young age. By the time he was seven, he was already receiving formal art training from his father.

He Had a Super Long Name

Picasso’s full name is an epic tongue-twister: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Crispín Crispiniano María Remedios de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso! His name honors multiple saints and relatives, reflecting his Spanish heritage, but he eventually became simply known as “Picasso.”

Child Prodigy

By the time Picasso was nine years old, he had completed his first painting, Le Picador, which depicted a man on horseback at a bullfight. His artistic skills were so advanced that at 13, he was admitted to art school, where his teachers were astounded by his talent. Picasso even surpassed his own father, who was a painter and art instructor.

Painting Marathon

Picasso was an art machine. Throughout his life, he produced an estimated 50,000 pieces of art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, and prints. This means Picasso worked at an astonishing pace—creating on average two pieces of art every day for most of his life! No wonder his style evolved through so many different phases.

Invented a New Style—Cubism

Picasso co-invented Cubism, one of the most radical art movements of the 20th century, along with fellow artist Georges Braque. In Cubism, objects are broken down into geometric shapes and shown from multiple angles at once. His groundbreaking painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon(1907) shocked the art world and paved the way for abstract art as we know it.

Blue Period Inspired by Tragedy

Picasso’s famous Blue Period (1901–1904) was characterized by somber paintings in shades of blue. This phase was sparked by a personal tragedy—the suicide of his close friend, Carlos Casagemas. Picasso was deeply affected and used his art to express his sorrow, creating haunting, melancholic works like The Old Guitarist.

A Picasso by Picasso

Picasso loved recycling materials in his artwork. He often used everyday objects like old newspapers, scraps of wood, and even bike parts! One of his most famous sculptures, Bull’s Head, is made entirely from a bicycle seat and handlebars. Picasso could turn ordinary things into extraordinary art.

He Was a Terrible Speller

Despite being a genius with paint and clay, Picasso wasn’t so great with words. He was known for his poor spelling and frequently made errors in his written correspondence. This didn't stop him from creating thousands of written works, including poetry and plays, but let's just say his art spoke louder than his grammar!

Loved Pets—Especially His Monkey

Picasso was an animal lover and had many pets, including dogs, cats, and a pet monkey! He even had a goat named Esmeralda, who would roam around his studio. His love for animals extended to his art, as animals often featured prominently in his works.

Obsessed with His Own Image

Picasso was fascinated with himself and created more than 400 self-portraits throughout his life, often in wildly different styles. From realistic depictions to abstract renderings, his self-portraits reveal how his perception of himself changed over the decades—and how he continually pushed the boundaries of his artistic expression.

Guinness World Record

Picasso holds the Guinness World Record for the most stolen artworks. With over 1,200 of his pieces missing or stolen, he’s the most targeted artist for art thieves in history. Even in this dark corner of fame, Picasso remains unmatched!

A Believer in Longevity

Picasso lived to the impressive age of 91 and remained creative right up until the end of his life. He once said, “It takes a long time to become young,” reflecting his belief that creativity kept him youthful and vibrant even in his later years.