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Before They Were Famous

Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and Albrecht Dürer–these are some of art history’s legends. It can be easy to forget that they were once students too. Their early art shows that when they were young, they were working hard to develop their talents. Can you see the unique styles they’re known for as adults in the art they created as kids?

Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Nosepicker I: Why Pick on Me (The Broad Gave Me My Face But I Can Pick My Own Nose), 1948. Ink on paper. Courtesy of Phillips Auction House/The Paul Warhola Family Collection.

In what ways did Warhol take risks in this painting?

Andy Warhol: Born 1928, USA

  • Andy Warhol was an art superstar, known for his Pop Art. He explored ideas of fame and identity in his portraits.
  • Warhol painted Nosepicker I, above, at age 20 when he was in college. Experts believe that the facial details hint that the work is a self-portrait.
  • Warhol distorted his physical features, using humor to express himself and add interest.
  • In his senior year, Warhol submitted this work to be included in an exhibit. But the judges rejected it because they found it offensive. He then submitted it to a student exhibit, where it was accepted.

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), Self-Portrait at 13, 1484. Silverpoint on paper.

How did Dürer develop his eye for detail as a teen?

Albrecht Dürer: Born 1471, Germany

  • Albrecht Dürer was a master of many media during the German Renaissance. He painted his most famous self-portrait at the age of 28. But a self-portrait he made at age 13, above, is no less accomplished.
  • As a teenager, Dürer trained as an apprentice at a jewelry shop. Viewers can see his eye for detail in works like this one.
  • To create this self-portrait, Dürer used silverpoint, a type of drawing in which the artist uses thin silver wire to make fine lines and add shadows on paper. This technique was popular among artists during the Renaissance.

Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), Fiesta in Figueres, 1914-1916. Gouache and oil on cardboard.

How does Dalí use perspective?

Salvador Dalí: Born 1904, Spain

  • Salvador Dalí, who would later become famous for his Surrealist works, painted Fiesta in Figueres, above, between the ages of 10 and 14. Figueres in the title refers to the small Spanish town where Dalí grew up.
  • Young Dalí depicts fireworks and formally dressed party guests. He uses flat colors to render the people and loose, colorful brushstrokes to paint the exploding fireworks.
  • Dalí captures the scene from the perspective of someone observing the festivities through an arch.

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), The Little Picador, 1892. Oil on panel. Art Resource, NY.

How might Picasso’s relationship with his father have influenced this early painting?

Pablo Picasso: Born 1881, Spain

  • Pablo Picasso is one of the most famous artists of all time. His father was also an artist and would ask his young son to add finishing touches to his paintings. This was Picasso’s first exposure to art.
  • The Little Picador, above, is one of Picasso’s earliest known works. He painted it when he was just 8 years old. The painting shows his technical skills and foreshadows his lifelong interest in bullfighting. He paints the picador—or bullfighter—the horse, and the figures in the audience with bright colors. They stand out against the muted background. He uses warm colors, perhaps to indicate a warm climate or excitement.
  • Picasso was always confident. He once said, “I never drew like a child.”

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