Pablo Picasso's artistic journey in the 1900s is a testament to his profound impact on modern art, showcasing his evolution from traditional techniques to pioneering Cubism and engaging with Surrealism. This period marks a series of transformations in Picasso's style, influenced by his personal experiences, socio-political context, and the artistic milieu of the time. At the turn of the century, Picasso's art was characterized by a traditional, academic approach, with early works like "The Altarboy" and "Portrait of the Artist's Mother" from 1896 reflecting a conventional style. However, by the end of the 1890s, influenced by Expressionist Edvard Munch and Post-Impressionist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso began experimenting with a more avant-garde style, moving away from realism. This shift is evident in works like "The Artist's Sister Lola" around 1899-1900, where Picasso started to explore a more freeform approach​ (My Modern Met)​. The early 1900s, specifically from 1901 to 1904, marked Picasso's Blue Period, characterized by somber blue tones and themes of poverty and despair. This phase was deeply influenced by his friend Casagemas's suicide, with works like "The Old Guitarist" and "The Absinthe Drinker" reflecting a melancholic mood and empathy towards society's marginalized. By 1904, as Picasso transitioned into his Rose Period, his palette brightened and his subjects shifted towards circus performers and entertainers, depicted in a warmer, more optimistic light, as seen in "Acrobat and Young Harlequin" and "Mother and Child, Acrobats"​ (My Modern Met)​. Picasso's engagement with Cubism, around 1907, marked a radical departure from traditional representation, as seen in "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," a cornerstone of Cubist innovation. This period was characterized by fragmented forms and a departure from three-dimensional perspective, fundamentally altering the course of modern art​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. The 1920s brought about a unique variant of classicism in Picasso's work, with paintings such as "Three Women at the Spring" (1921) and "Large Nude in a Red Armchair" (1929) reflecting an influence from the classical world and Surrealism. However, it was "Guernica" (1937), Picasso's response to the Spanish Civil War, that became one of his most politically significant and emblematic works, showcasing the horrors of war and the suffering of innocent civilians​ (The Art Story)​​ (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)​. Throughout the 1900s, Picasso's art evolved significantly, mirroring changes in his personal life, artistic influences, and the socio-political climate. His work from this period laid the groundwork for modern art's development, from his early academic works to his pioneering contributions to Cubism and engagement with Surrealism, marking him as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.