The Old Guitarist

Pablo Picasso painted this haunting image in late 1903-1904, near the end of his Blue Period. An emaciated, blind man hunches over his guitar, his elongated body curved around the instrument in an almost protective embrace. The painting hangs at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it's one of their most treasured works.

The figure's distorted proportions echo the style of El Greco, whose work Picasso admired. The monochromatic blue palette emphasizes the guitarist's poverty and isolation. X-ray analysis has revealed that Picasso painted over an earlier composition, a common practice during his financially difficult early years. The painting has become an iconic image of artistic struggle and human resilience.