Pablo Picasso
355

Pablo Picasso. First Communion, 1896


FIRST COMMUNION

Première Communion

1896

Oil on canvas

118 х 166 cm

Barcelona, Picasso Museum

Early Works  

The painting «First Communion» was created by 15-year-old Picasso on the advice of his father for the Exhibition of Fine Arts in Barcelona in 1896. At that time, Pablo attended La Lonja School of Art. Picasso has never been a devotee or a religionist (at least in the traditional sense of the word). Nevertheless, his 1895-1896 student drawings contain quite a lot of scenes from the life of Jesus and images of saints. The active and ambitious young artist could not help but be interested in means of expression and iconographic schemes used by the great masters of the past: this "food" for his personal creative growth was digested almost beyond recognition and gradually formed the Picasso’s artistic personality. Many years later, the author of many articles and books about the master, Pierre Daix, who knew Picasso more than a quarter century, asked him whether he regretted that he created paintings like «First Communion». And Picasso answered: "No way, back then it was very important for me."



More from 1896

Portrait of the Artist's Mother Portrait of the Artist's Mother
Self-Portrait Self-Portrait
Head of a Girl Head of a Girl
Portrait of father l`artiste Portrait of father l`artiste
Portrait of Aunt Pepa Portrait of Aunt Pepa
The lad choir The lad choir
Gentleman portrait of the eighteenth century Gentleman portrait of the eighteenth century
Bullfighting Bullfighting
The lad and his doll? E The lad and his doll? E
Head of a bearded man (La Llotja) Head of a bearded man (La Llotja)
Self-Portrait with short hair Self-Portrait with short hair
Portrait of father l`artiste Portrait of father l`artiste


All artworks by year

1889
1
1890
2
1891
1
1892
2
1893
1
1894
1
1895
20
1896
13
1897
5
1898
4
1899
33
1900
27
1901
71
1902
21
1903
21
1904
24
1905
48
1906
60
1907
39
1908
59
1909
63
1910
23
1911
27
1912
55
1913
34
1914
71
1915
21
1916
16
1917
38
1918
26
1919
54
1920
100
1921
77
1922
54
1923
64
1924
17
1925
19
1926
18
1927
26
1928
39
1929
20
1930
14
1931
15
1932
49
1933
18
1934
27
1935
9
1936
41
1937
100
1938
88
1939
71
1940
21
1941
21
1942
25
1943
27
1944
31
1945
35
1946
50
1947
20
1948
12
1949
12
1950
14
1951
15
1952
11
1953
17
1954
57
1955
24
1956
22
1957
17
1958
23
1959
26
1960
42
1961
26
1962
53
1963
46
1964
39
1965
50
1966
11
1967
66
1968
37
1969
97
1970
71
1971
111
1972
42
1973
1


Comments

2017
#1. Sassynaustin, Austin, Tx
I have seen this painting in person. It is breathtaking. Even more amazing because of the youth of the artist. Very close to life-size, I almost expected the communicant to start reciting prayers.
11 February
2012
#2. jazzy, us, san francisco
not that good, its kinda boring compared to his other stuff
05 June
2011
#3. Annabella, USA, Massachusetts
Screw you all, this is amazing!
09 December
#4. Peter, San Jose , USA
Very much in a realist style. Excellent use of shadow in the upper walls to bring out the highlights in his sister`s dress. Beautiful.
09 October
#5. JB, Ireland
Gorgeous !
29 July
#6. christopher d ashley, Reading, UK
no, any artist could not do that. picasso had 2 sisters, one who died very young. look at the candles. if all you see is paint you know nothing of art.
22 June
2010
#7. jack, netherlands
He did not even win the contest ,, drew when he was 15 ,, very unoriginal painting, anygood artist could do that.
02 September

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