During the early part of the twentieth century, prior to the invention of Cubism, Picasso developed his art in what are now generally called the Blue, Rose, and African periods. The first two of these periods are dominated by melancholy portraits of boys, harlequins, and bereft women. The African period expressed Picasso's discovery of and fascination with the sculpture and designs of Africa. These periods culminated in one of Picasso's most famous oil painting, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.
