This exhibition showcases paintings Picasso produced at the age of 19. There's a strong influence from other artists and the sudden suicide of his friend in a Parisian cafe. You can see the progression through that year of his style and how he developed his techniques. The works at the beginning of his Blue Period almost made me cry I found them so moving. I strongly recommend a visit. It's only two rooms but it is a very beautiful experience.
"“The Courtauld Gallery has excelled itself by mounting a tight, compelling, and beautifully installed exhibition, full of first-class works of art borrowed from important institutions around the world. Don’t miss it." The Telegraph
"The most exuberant, magnificently focused selection of early Picassos that I have encountered" The Financial Times
"“The Courtauld Gallery, which has brought us a succession of tightly focused small exhibitions in recent years, has come up with another real stunner." The Independent
