Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera. Two artist living in different cities at the same time. What possibly could they have in common? Much more than you think. Despite Picasso living in Spain and Rivera living in Mexico, both artists were inspired by historical works (antiquities for Picasso, Mesomerica for Rivera) yet developed styles of 20th century modernism unique to them yet had remarkable similarities. Cubism is one such style painted by Picasso and Rivera. While Picasso is best known for his work in Cubism, as he is considered one of the founders of the movement, Rivera also made great strides in his cubist pieces. This can best be exemplified in Picasso’s Man with a Pipe (Homme au chapeau melon assis dans un fauteuil) and Rivera’s Sailor at Lunch (Fusilero marino).

Portrait of Sebastià Junyer Vidal // Pablo Picasso // oil on canvas // June 1903

The Era (La Era) // Diego Rivera // oil on canvas // 1904

Man with a Pipe (Homme au chapeau melon assis dans un fauteuil) // Pablo Picasso // oil on canvas // 1915

Sailor at Lunch (Fusilero marino) // Diego Rivera // oil on canvas // 1914

Woman in a Blue Veil (la femme au voile bleu) // Pablo Picasso // oil on canvas // Fall 1923

(L) Seated Standard Bearer // Mexico, Aztec, Veracruz, 1250-1521 // sandstone, laminated (R) Frida’s Friend (El Amigo de Frida) // Diego Rivera // oil on canvas // 1931