Picasso's Muse - Olga Picasso

Ya’ll know we love us some Picasso, but did you know about the women in his life?

Pablo Picasso is one of the most influential artists of all time. However, few know about his muse, Olga Picasso, who inspired some of his most moving works. Born in Nizhyn, a Ukrainian town in the Russian Empire, Olga entered Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. While touring in Rome in 1918, she met Pablo during his stint as an art director in charge of costumes and decorations for the ballet company. They were married the same year.

Olga was depicted in several ways over time from melancholy to maternal in some of his paintings. However it was not until Picasso met his 17-year-old mistress, Marie-Thérèse Walter, that Olga began to show up in his works as thin with a tight grimace – art imitating life, some might say.

We continue to see Pablo Picasso’s exhibits pop up around the world where they draw consistent crowds, but take a look at some of the works inspired by Olga, currently on display at the Pompidou in Paris, France.

We see you, girl!