From Obsession to Betrayal: The Life and Art of Pablo Picasso

Abstract

With the exception of his physical size, everything about Pablo Picasso was larger than life. He was one of the richest and most productive and prolific artists that ever lived. Picasso's artwork, long recognized for its sensual and erotic content, became the single most revealing indicator of his ardent emotional and sexual life. So too, Picasso's personal life became defined by passionate intrigue, infidelity and melodrama. This paper will review the nature of Picasso's most intimate personal relationships through the portraits and stories of eight important women in his life; two wives, five mistresses and one granddaughter. Psychological theories familiar to sex addiction professionals will be considered as a means for understanding the connections between Picasso's childhood and the patterns of sexual excess and relationship dysfunction evidenced in his adult relationships.