What is Pablo Picasso's blue period?

The Blue Period is used to describe Pablo Picasso's works during the first years of the 20th century. Although no exact dates are defined, the period is generally defined as 1901 to 1904, when Picasso's paintings featured, almost exclusively, shades of blue and green.

The Blue Period paintings often featured societal outsiders, such as beggars, the downtrodden elderly, street performers and prostitutes. Blindness was also a recurring theme of many paintings. Picasso attributed the works to his depression at the time, which was brought on by the suicide of his friend, Carlos Casagemas. Many of Picasso's dark themes followed him into his Rose Period, which featured mostly pink shades of color.