Self-Portrait

Pablo Picasso completed this intense self-portrait in 1901, at the beginning of his Blue Period. At just 20 years old, he depicts himself as gaunt and hollow-cheeked, wearing a dark coat against a blue background. The somber palette and psychological intensity mark a dramatic shift from his earlier, more colorful work.

This self-portrait was created shortly after the suicide of Picasso's close friend Carlos Casagemas, an event that deeply affected him and initiated the Blue Period. The young artist appears older than his years, with a haunted expression that reflects both personal grief and his identification with society's outcasts. The painting demonstrates how early Picasso developed his ability to convey emotional depth.