5 Childhood Artworks of Famous Artists

Even the greatest artists had to start somewhere. From early sketches on the backs of school papers to surprisingly sophisticated childhood paintings, these works reveal the beginnings of talent that would later shape art history. 

Works by artists created before their rise to fame may not look like anything else in their oeuvre. They were, after all, learning the skills they would need to create more well-known masterpieces. Take a look at how iconic artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Angelica Kauffman first picked up their brushes.

1. Pablo Picasso, The Picador (1889)

One of Pablo Picasso‘s first paintings was this depiction of a matador in his native Spain.

2. Salvador Dalí, Landscape near Figueres (ca. 1910)

This does not look much like a typical Salvador Dalí painting, as it was painted when he was only six!. It shows, however, his early interest in Impressionism.

3. Edward Hopper, Little Boy Looking at the Sea (1891)

This particular sketch was discovered on the back of one of Edward Hopper‘s report cards from school. A simple drawing, yet it already presents a striking melancholy that would characterize Hopper’s mature works.

4. Angelica Kauffman, Self-Portrait with Sheet Music (1753)

Angelica Kauffman traveled with her artist father throughout Europe as his assistant and was able to see and learn from the great Renaissance works. She later became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

5. Albrecht Dürer, Self-Portrait at the Age of Thirteen (1484)

This is Albrecht Dürer‘s oldest drawing, and, as many of his works, it’s a self-portrait. It’s a clear example of Dürer’s mastery, which made him one of the most important artists of the Northern Renaissance.