How to Spot a Painting by Picasso

Picasso is arguably one of the greatest artists of his time but without a doubt one of the most influential. His masterpieces invoke both awe and criticism and command millions. Look for the style and the telltale signatures to spot his work for yourself.

Instructions

1. Look for bold, thick black lines and lots of bright colors. With the exception of a few pencil sketches, Picasso liked to use vibrant colors and obvious bold angles and strokes in his work, which draws the eye and makes them stand out from other less bold pieces.

2. Spot the paintings with simple representations such as a bunch of flowers or a nude from behind. Because Picasso's work varies from the realism style of his early work, to the depressing "blue" period, it is difficult to put his work in a single category. Look for the constant themes that include people in various poses or his technique of putting emphasis on a single feature.

3. Discount landscapes and inanimate objects as almost all of Picasso's works contain images of people or animals in a variety of different styles. From the infamous "Guernica," which contains both, to a simple sketch of "the dog."

4. Consider cubist styles and disjointed images. Pablo Picasso went through several different styles in his career but his cubist pieces such as "Three Musicians" or "Femme au chapeau bleu" are some of the easiest to recognize because they lack the continuity and cohesion of most other artists.

5. Assess the security around different paintings. As the works of Pablo Picasso are so famous and expensive, chances are that in any exhibit the security surrounding the Picasso will be greater than many of the other art pieces. Look for extra alarms and security personnel.