Jan 01, 1948 - Cannes, France - Famous as no artist ever had been, PABLO PICASSO was a pioneer, a master and a protean monster, with a hand in every art movement of the century. Before his 50th birthday, the little Spaniard from Malaga had become the very prototype of the modern artist as public figure. Picasso s audience - meaning people who had heard of him and seen his work, at least in reproduction - was in the tens, possibly hundreds, of millions. He and his work were the subjects of unending analysis, gossip, dislike, adoration and rumor. PICTURED: French painter and PICASSO s companion FRANCOISE GILOT, PICASSO and his nephew JAVIER VILATO. Cannes France - ZUMAk09

Jan 01, 1948 - Cannes, France - Famous as no artist ever had been, PABLO PICASSO was a pioneer, a master and a protean monster, with a hand in every art movement of the century. Before his 50th birthday, the little Spaniard from Malaga had become the very prototype of the modern artist as public figure. Picasso s audience - meaning people who had heard of him and seen his work, at least in reproduction - was in the tens, possibly hundreds, of millions. He and his work were the subjects of unending analysis, gossip, dislike, adoration and rumor. PICTURED: French painter and PICASSO s companion FRANCOISE GILOT, PICASSO and his nephew JAVIER VILATO. Cannes France - ZUMAk09