Welcome to Malaga, the birthplace of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century – Pablo Picasso. This thematic tour will take you on a journey through the life and artistic legacy of this prodigious painter. As we explore the vibrant city of Malaga, we’ll delve into the places that shaped Picasso’s early years, the artistic movements that influenced him, and the masterpieces that immortalized his name. Let us now begin here, from Placa De La Merced.

We are standing in front of Casa Natal, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. This humble home has been transformed into a museum that houses a remarkable collection of memorabilia, photographs, and early artworks, offering insights into Picasso’s upbringing and early artistic endeavors. Either willing to enter or not, let’s pause here a moment to understand and discover the childhood and background of our genius.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso, simply known as Pablo Picasso, was born on 25 October 1881, in a former convent converted into this residential palace, known as Casa de Campos. Pablo came to life in one of this building’s rooms. His father, Don Josè Ruiz Blasco, was also a painter and teacher but of modest standing, and Maria Picasso Lopez de Onate, his mother, was a woman of Italian origin (Picasso’s surname is in fact typical of the city of Genoa).

Pablo began to take his first steps in the art of drawing thanks to the influence of his father José. The young Pablo spent his childhood in this house, until he was about 10 years old.

This very building, Pablo Picasso’s birthplace (and now home to the Fundación Picasso), was declared a historic-artistic monument of national interest in 1983, and was included in Spain’s museum system by the Ministry of Culture in 1991. Plaques are affixed to the outside of the Palace testifying to the period when the artist lived here.

Inside the house, one can admire mementoes, memorabilia and two collections of works by the famous artist, and also works by his father.

The collections allow you to admire the portrait of ‘Olga Khochlova‘ (also known as Olga Picasso), a Russian-Ukrainian dancer and the artist’s first wife; moreover, inside the exhibition is also visible the painting of ‘Jacqueline Sentada‘, one of the four hundred works dedicated to his second wife, Jacqueline Roque, whom he considered a source of inspiration for his art. Last but not least, it is also possible to take a close look at the unique ‘Portrait of Lola‘, depicting his sister.

Basically, everything that was close to Pablo Picasso and that was part of his family’s childhood breathes here. It is the ideal place to understand how Pablo Picasso’s roots were firmly anchored in this city, and how Malaga always kept him very close to his origins, despite long periods of the artist’s absence.

You can now either enter the museum to explore its interior or proceed the walk, reaching in a few steps the statue of Pablo Picasso in the middle of the square.

Ptolemy

Ptolemy

Discovering the splendours and Moorish past of Malaga

Discovering the splendours and Moorish past of Malaga