The stages of Picasso's development are traced from his early works, still rooted in academic tradition, through his blue and red periods, to the turning point brought about by the evolution of Cubism. A return to traditional vision and contact with Antique and Roman classicism ushered in a series of paintings and drawings of monumental female nudes, and paved the way for the multiplicity of styles he adopted in later years. This exceptional overview of Picasso's oeuvres on paper not only shows works from the world's top museums, but also from many private collections in Europe and America, including the Berggruen Collection, Berlin, Angela Rosengart, Lucerne, and the collections held by Claude and Bernard Picasso. Many of these masterpieces are published here for the first time.