Spanish painter, printmaker and sculptor, Pablo Picasso, is widely regarded as one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. As the 50th anniversary of his passing on April 8th approaches, it begs the question of what his legacy would look like in today’s world, where artificial intelligence can generate images and gender equality is increasingly on every societal agenda.

In terms of morality, Picasso seems to have fallen out of step with the times, as he objectified and mistreated women in his works and in his personal life. Picasso had ambivalent relationships with women, and there are stories of how he treated them. Some art historians say that he divided women into “goddesses and doormats.”

Many contemporary artists, both male and female, are no longer inspired by his use of symbols and figures.

His individualistic concept of freedom is viewed skeptically today, and his belief that his life was a work of art and his art was his life is considered excessive. He was very self-centered and had an insatiable drive to create.

Nevertheless, we owe him the invention of the peace dove, a powerful symbol of hope and reconciliation that endures to this day.

Picasso in a world where artificial intelligence can generate images and gender equality is becoming more and more important, who or what would he be today?