A summer in Gósol village that inspired Picasso

A summer stay in Gósol village inspired Picasso




The tiny village of Gósol is nestled in high in the Spanish / Catalan Pyrenees mountains.

Here you can follow in the footsteps of famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso who arrived in Gósol by mule over 100 years ago in June 1906.

Picasso spent a summer painting the picturesque village, its residents, his girlfriend Fernande Olivier and the splendid mountain landscapes.

Picasso was living in Paris at the time. He came to Gósol because a friend had told him about the beauty of this mountain village.

Picasso and his girlfriend, Fernande Olivier, who was a French artist and model, decided to spend a long summer vacation in Gósol. 

The couple travelled first by train from Paris to Barcelona where they stayed for 2 weeks to catch up with Picasso's old friend and family from his years spent living and studying in Barcelona.

Then they travelled to Gosol. The last part of the voyage to Gosol could only be made on mules along precarious mountain tracks overlooking steep precipices.

Picasso and Olivier stayed at Gósol's only inn, the Hostal cal Tampanada.

Their plan was to enjoy the summer painting and relaxing in the simple country and perhaps find new inspiration.

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This time marked a change and a new beginning for Picasso.

The views of the village houses and roofs contributed to his creation of cubism, which was to be a breakthrough for the artist.

During his 10 week stay in Gosol, Picasso painted tirelessly and produced seven large paintings, a dozen medium-sized ones, and countless drawings, watercolours, gouaches, and carvings.

If you visit Gósol today, you can go by car.  You can still see the window of the room Picasso stay in Gósol and can also see the ruins of the 13th century castle and medieval village.

There is a small Picasso centre in Gósol - and like Picasso and Fernande, you can enjoy lunch in the village square or enjoy a picnic and gaze at the mountains and village houses.

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Last Updated on Monday, 30 January 2023 16:13
 

Saturday, 23 September 2023


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