The childhood home of the one of the world’s greatest artists features his first studio, some of his earliest sketches and a 4,000-piece collection of art.
Pablo Picasso is one of the world’s most famous artists, and he is still considered one of the greatest, even though four decades have passed since his death. Visit the house in which he was born in 1881. Today, the house has been repurposed to serve as a museum and the headquarters of the Picasso Foundation. The museum is known simply as the Casa Natal Picasso, or Picasso’s Birthplace.
Picasso already showed promise in his early drawings. Check out his childhood studio to see where Picasso began his first traditional sketches. Later, he would become one of the great experimentalists of modern art.
Much later in life, Picasso was quoted as saying that it took him his entire life to learn how to paint like a child. This makes it particularly interesting to see his humble beginnings. Even though he didn’t spend much of his life in Málaga, it’s clear that Picasso’s childhood experience had a huge influence on his artistic vision.
Some of Picasso’s early academic studies are on display at the museum, as are preliminary sketches for certain famous early works, like Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Learn about the importance of this early work to Picasso’s career at a workshop or event in the Casa Natal Picasso library.
In addition to his juvenilia, Picasso’s Birthplace features a 4,000-piece collection of his later art and the work of artists whom he inspired. Browse the four floors of this museum to see how prolific and influential Picasso was in his time. Also, check out the temporary exhibitions to see showcases of his contemporaries.
Don’t miss Picasso’s early engravings and ceramics, which reveal that he was always interested in different artistic media. Old photographs of the Picassos reveal how the Casa Natal Picasso looked when it was still inhabited.
Located in Málaga’s Old Town district, Picasso’s Birthplace is easily reached from most Málaga attractions by taxi or bus. Open daily, the museum requires a small entry fee that includes an audio guide. Visit on a Sunday for free entry.
