He co-founded the Cubist movement with Georges Braque, fundamentally changing how artists represented reality by depicting subjects from multiple viewpoints simultaneously. His groundbreaking work "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907) marked a radical departure from traditional European painting. Throughout his life, Picasso worked in diverse styles and periods, including the Blue Period, Rose Period, African-influenced Period, Analytic Cubism, and Synthetic Cubism.

His masterpiece "Guernica" (1937), created in response to the bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War, remains one of the most powerful anti-war paintings in history. Extraordinarily prolific, Picasso created an estimated 50,000 artworks including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and prints.

He continued working until his death at age 91 in Mougins, France. His innovative techniques and boundless creativity profoundly influenced countless artists and established him as one of the most important figures in modern art history.