Pablo Picasso: “Femme (Époque des 'Demoiselles d'Avignon')” (1907), Limited Reproduction

At the age of 12, he could already paint like Raphael; by 20, no university professor could impart any further profound knowledge of art to him. When Pablo Picasso died at the biblical age of 91, he left the world a body of work comprising over 40,000 pieces—and the certainty of having been the most important artist of the 20th century. Pablo Ruiz Picasso drew inspiration for new works of art from every material and every technique: wax crayons, oil on canvas, silk, sculptures, ceramics—the great Spaniard's versatility was overwhelming. Picasso's fellow artist Max Ernst once remarked: "...No one can compete with him, he's a genius." This judgment by the great Surrealist underscores the unique rank that Picasso occupies in the art history of the 20th century. The auction of the estate of Picasso's longtime partner, Dora Maar, was the major Parisian auction event of the late 20th century. The unparalleled collection fetched record prices. The demand for Picasso's drawings was particularly high, far exceeding estimates. Dora Maar once said of Picasso: "When the women in his life change, everything else changes too: his house, his favorite poet, his circle of friends, his style." Throughout his life, he sought ever new forms of expression using a wide variety of artistic means. Even today, top-class exhibitions worldwide attract record numbers of visitors, testifying to his enduring popularity.