Pastel sobre papel. 49,8 x 39 cm. Museu Picasso, Barcelona
© Sucesión Picasso, VEGAP, Madrid, 2024.
María Picasso López, born in 1855 in Málaga, was the strong and vital woman who became the pillar of the Ruiz Picasso family. She played a crucial role in Picasso's life, especially during the early years when the young artist's talent began to emerge. Her steadfastness, determination and love of reading and theater left an important mark on Picasso's personality.
Raised in a family with economic limitations due to the early death of her father, Maria understood from a young age the value of effort and perseverance, something she taught her children from an early age. She married José Ruiz, a man seventeen years older and better off economically, in a union that would be crucial for the development of the young Pablo Picasso.
The Ruiz Picasso couple had three children: Pablo, María Dolores and María de la Concepción. The family moved from Malaga to A Coruña for a time, settling definitively in Barcelona in 1895.
María Picasso was a constant support for her son, encouraging him in his artistic career. According to sources at the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, on one occasion María convinced her uncle Salvador, José Ruiz's brother, to raise the necessary funds for Picasso to be released from military service so that he could focus on his art. A crucial step for the young painter. As Picasso settled in Paris and became a prominent name in the art world, the relationship with his mother continued through letters and visits.
Maria Picasso's death in January 1938-at the end of the Spanish Civil War-marked a significant moment in the artist's life. Although the war prevented Picasso from attending the funeral, the memory and influence of his mother persisted in his life and work. In fact, Picasso ended up signing his works with his mother's surname, which made him famous all over the world.
Sources:
Museu Picasso Barcelona:
Museo Casa Natal Picasso:
https://museocasanatalpicasso.malaga.eu/museo-casa-natal/la-familia-de-picasso/