"The Dream" is one of Picasso's most famous paintings.

NOTE: People either seem to love or loathe Picasso's paintings. But even if you hate Picasso's work, your child should be exposed to his paintings - in part because Picasso is important to art history; in part because he's part of the common vernacular ("I'm no Picasso..."); and in part because your child should have an opportunity to form an opinion about the artists' work. As a bonus, if you help your child study Picasso's work, you may find an actual appreciation for his work that you wouldn't otherwise have.


Pablo Picasso: b.October 25, 1881 in Málaga, Spain (find it on the globe) d.April 8, 1973 in Mougins, France (find it on the globe)

Style: Cubism (learn more about cubism here)

See some of  Picasso's most famous paintings here.

Be sure to give your child plenty of time to study each work of art. Ask: How is Picasso's work like other artists you've studied? How is it different? How do you feel looking at Picasso's work? What shapes and colors do you often see in his work? Do brushstrokes play a significant role in his paintings? Why do you think Picasso painted this way? Be sure to check out some of Picasso's early work, which was painted in a realistic style.

* Biography of Picasso
* Longer biography of Picasso
* "Fun Facts about Pablo Picasso"
* Illustrated, brief bio of Picasso
* Coloring page: "Three Musicians"
* Coloring page: "Child with Dove"
* Coloring page: "Girl in Front of Mirror"
* Coloring page: "Girl on a Pillow"
* Coloring page: "Portrait of Jacqueline Roque"
* Coloring page: "The Dream"
* Activity: Understanding cubism and making a cubist portrait
* Activity: Picasso-inspired portraits
* Activity: Picassohead, an online activity
* Activity: 3-D Picasso-inspired toy
* Activity: Picasso-inspired collage
* Video: Grow and Know: Picasso
* Video: Miss Patty's Art Smart: Picasso 

Learn more about this free art history curriculum for kids, plus a list of all artists covered so far, by clicking here.