Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He was born on October 25, 1881, in Málaga, Spain, and died on April 8, 1973, in Mougins, France. Picasso is renowned for his immense talent and prolific artistic output. His work spans various art movements and styles throughout his career. He is considered one of the co-founders of Cubism, one of the core concepts in modern art. In this post, I will cover the history of Marina Picasso, her burdening inheritance and assets, and her relationship with her grandfather.
Marina Picasso’s Upbringing
Marina Picasso, born María de la Concepción Picasso López, is the granddaughter of the renowned artist Pablo Picasso. She was born on September 16, 1950, in Paris, France. Marina is the daughter of Paulo Picasso, one of Pablo Picasso’s four children.
Marina’s childhood was marked by a complicated family dynamic. Her father, Paulo, was born to Pablo’s first wife, a Russian ballerina named Olga Khokhlova, and the painter. Paulo Picasso and Christine Ruiz-Picasso had a tumultuous relationship which eventually led to their separation. In addition, Marina’s upbringing was largely influenced by her mother and stepfather. He provided her with stability and support while Paulo suffered from alcoholism.
Marina had limited interactions with her grandfather during her childhood. He was a renowned artist whose demanding career and personal life left little time for family connections. Marina has spoken about feeling neglected and overshadowed by her grandfather’s art and fame. Also, she expressed a sense of abandonment and emotional detachment from him.
Despite the challenges in her family relationships, Marina received an education and pursued her own interests. She developed a passion for art and creativity. Although, she did not choose to pursue a career as an artist herself.
Marina’s childhood experiences and her relationship with her grandfather influenced her later life. In her adult years, she became involved in preserving her grandfather’s heritage. Also, she was concerned with addressing the commercialization and financial challenges faced by her family.
Marina’s Relationship with Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso had a complex relationship with his granddaughter Marina Picasso. While there were moments of affection and bonding between them, their relationship was often strained and distant. Marina has spoken about feeling neglected and overshadowed by her grandfather’s art and fame.
She describes remembering having to wait for up to six hours outside of Pablo’s estate to be able to visit him. In addition, her and her brother were never gifted a single artwork from him, not even a drawing. This effected her especially since he was known to give small drawings to people he hardly knew, even passerby’s on the streets.
She has not a single photo of her and her grandfather together, and she recalls specific instances when her and her brother would visit their grandfather. She recently interviewed with The Guardian, in an article where she describes that Pablo’s goats had more access to wandering the house than her and her brother did.
Perhaps the most tragic detail about her upbringing happened after her grandfather died. While Marina had spent her childhood understanding not to rely upon her family members, her brother saw their grandfather as his savior. She would come to inherit a whole fifth of his estate since Picasso had died without a will.
When Pablo Picasso died in 1973, her brother was not even invited to the funeral. This led to a major depressive spiral which ultimately resulted in his own suicide. He suffered in the hospital for months before passing.
Marina’s Legacy and Assets
In the 1990s, Marina established the Marina Picasso Foundation, aiming to support initiatives related to education, arts, and culture. Through her foundation, she has donated a significant number of artworks inherited from her grandfather to various museums and institutions.
Through the foundation, Marina Picasso has sought to support educational initiatives that promote the arts and foster creativity. The foundation has also been involved in cultural projects and collaborations with various organizations to promote artistic and cultural exchange.
While specific details about the current activities and projects of the Marina Picasso Foundation may not be readily available, it remains an important entity in preserving and promoting the artistic legacy of Pablo Picasso and supporting initiatives that align with Marina’s vision and values.
Marina Picasso has also written a memoir titled “Picasso: My Grandfather” (published in French as “Picasso: Mon Grand-Père”). In which, she shares her personal experiences and reflections on her family’s relationship with Pablo Picasso.
Marina Picasso inherited a significant number of paintings from her grandfather, Pablo Picasso. The exact number of paintings she inherited is not publicly disclosed. It may be difficult to provide an exact figure as the inheritance likely included various types of artworks. This includes paintings, drawings, and other artistic pieces.
However, it is known that Marina Picasso received a substantial portion of her grandfather’s estate, including numerous artworks from his prolific career. These artworks have been valuable contributions to preserving and promoting the artistic legacy of Pablo Picasso.
It’s important to note that the exact details of the artworks inherited and their current whereabouts may not be publicly available or subject to change due to donations or sales made by Marina Picasso over time.