Famous Picasso paintings: 7 works that captured our imagination

Written by Forrest Brown, CNNIt’s hard to imagine a visual record of the 20th century without Pablo Ruiz Picasso. With his bold shapes and characteristic angles, the Spanish artist captured everything from the horrors of war to the boundless possibilities of the human form. Even those unfamiliar with the intricacies of modern art history can likely identify a few of his best-known paintings — particularly those in his signature cubist style. However, during Picasso’s long life — he died in 1973 at age 91 — he is estimated to have completed 13,500 paintings and around 100,000 prints and engravings. Pablo Picasso captured on October 1971 in Mougins, France. Credit: RALPH GATTI/AFP/AFP/Getty ImagesA comprehensive retrospective of his work and the numerous artistic traditions it spanned, is a massive undertaking. So much so that entire museums are devoted to his prolific output (Museu Picasso in Barcelona and Musée Picasso in Paris, to name two of the largest). His artworks are also coveted inclusions in private collections worldwide.Here are seven of Picasso’s most famous paintings, in order of completion:’The Old Guitarist'”The Old Guitarist” comes from Picasso’s “blue period.” Credit: Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society/The Art Institute of ChicagoCompleted: Late 1903 to early 1904Where to see it: Art Institute of Chicago”The Old Guitarist” has to be one of the most sorrowful paintings to ever capture the art world’s imagination. The figure depicted — gaunt and cross-legged — appears exhausted as he slumps over his brown guitar. The oil-on-panel painting is from Picasso’s “blue period,” which saw him restrict himself to shades of blue as he explored themes of poverty and suffering.Did you know? The Art Institute of Chicago became the first American museum to put a Picasso on permanent display after it bought “The Old Guitarist” in 1926.’Garçon à la Pipe’Sotheby’s sold “Garçon à la Pipe” for a stunning amount in 2004. Credit: Sotheby’s/APCompleted: 1905Where to see it: Private collection With “Garçon à la Pipe (Boy With a Pipe),” we move from Picasso’s blue period to the more lively rose period. And while the figure in the oil-on-canvas portrait is clothed in blue, the background features happier shades of ochre and pink. While hardly bubbling over with joy, the boy strikes a more upbeat image than that of the downtrodden figures from the blue period. He even wears a headpiece of flowers, with more flowers appearing in the background.Picasso painted this not long after he moved to the Montmartre section of Paris, which attracted the likes of Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.Did you know? “Garçon” sold for a stunning $104.1 million back in 2004 — a record for any painting at the time. Art critics were taken aback, with some not considering the painting among Picasso’s best efforts. But the sale helped propel it to notoriety, securing its place as one of Picasso’s most famous works.’Gertrude Stein'”Gertrude Stein” is in the permanent collection of the Met. Stein’s interest in Picasso’s work was a turning point in his career. Credit: Felix Horhager/picture-alliance/dpa/APCompleted: 1905-06Where to see it: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)In a portrait that’s as imposing as its subject, “Gertrude Stein” was created near the end of Picasso’s rose period.Picasso became quick friends with Stein, a writer, after he moved to Paris. Famed for her weekly salons, Stein’s influence extended beyond the literary world. She was also an avid art collector, and joining her inner circle could propel a painter’s career to new heights.While the portrait is not a cubist work, art experts see the early stirrings of cubism with the use of simple masses for Stein’s body. Did you know? Look closely at the painting — Stein’s face stands out from the rest of the portrait. That’s because Picasso was unhappy with his early efforts. He got so frustrated that he went back to Spain for a break and finished the face upon his return to France. Stein bequeathed the portrait to the Met in 1946.’Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’