Pablo Picasso was born in 1881 in Malaga, Spain. He had already become adept at painting and drawing by the time he turned 15 years of age. As he got older, he developed a unique style that was highly abstract and that has influenced artists up to the present day. He investigated other art forms, too, applying his craft to sculpture, ceramics, and other forms. Picasso's art can be divided into a number of periods based on the style and subject matter. In his Blue Period (1901–1904), he painted sad-looking people using blue hues. His use of blue shades conveyed to the viewer a sense of isolation. Picasso moved to Paris in 1904 and began his Rose Period, during which he frequently painted in shades of rose and pink. The subject matter of this period included many circus acts and high-flying acrobats as well as harlequins. The harlequin was a comedic character who usually wore checkered clothing. Then, in 1907, he started a new style of painting called "cubism," along with French painter Georges Braque.
Picasso's art went through a militant period in the 1930s when he created paintings portraying the horrors of war. In his later years, however, his work became calmer and less political. Picasso died in 1973 at his home in France.