Pablo Picasso remains Spain’s most enduringly important artist, admired by art lovers the world over. He was born in the south of the country, but he moved north to Barcelona with his family when he was still young. He retained his close affinity with the city until the day he died in the 1970s. It was this city after all which he selected to be the home of the world’s first museum officially dedicated to his life and work.
Today, it houses over 3,500 works, with everything from early childhood sketches, paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics and some of his most important and iconic cubist masterpieces. During your visit, you’ll be whisked off on a fascinating journey through his story and his development as an artist.
The building itself comprises five gothic-style palaces located in the city’s old town area, some of which date back to the 13th century. The palaces are all connected together, and the permanent collection inside the museum is laid out in chronological order.
When you first arrive, you’ll see photos, drawings and sketches from Picasso’s early days growing up. Follow his story as he moves to Paris, goes through his ‘Blue Period’, and then produces his Las Meninas, his series of 58 paintings completed in 1957 interpreting the famed Las Meninas work by Diego Velazquez. The series was bestowed by Picasso as a gift to the museum.
Among the other works you’ll find here are the Portrait of the Artist’s Father and The First Communion dating back to 1896, and The Embrace from 1900. If you would like a memento of your visit, there’s a gift shop in the museum which sells illustrated books and postcards of some of his works.
The museum is open every day except Mondays. The best way to reach it is by metro as there are three stops located nearby. If you visit on the first Sunday of the month or after 3 p.m. on subsequent Sundays, there is no charge to enter. For an extra charge, you can hire an audio guide to help you make the most out of your visit. There are also guided tours (in English) available on Sundays.
