Pablo Picasso Set As Next Genius Subject

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Pablo Picasso will be the subject of the second season of National Geographic Channel’s biographical anthology series “Genius.”

The legendary Spanish artist, who died in 1973 at the age of 91, was chosen for the depth of his impact on art and the perception of what constitutes art in the modern era. He also fit the bill as a historical figure whose name is well known but his life story is less familiar. Picasso’s story offers plenty of dramatic twists and turns, from the backdrop of two world wars and the Spanish civil war, to myriad romantic relationships and a life that naturally intersected with a slew of other famous names of his time. His circle included such notables as Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Gertrude Stein, Georges Braque, and Jean Cocteau.

“Genius,” from Imagine TV and OddLot Entertainment, bowed this year with a 10-episode narrative look at the life of Albert Einstein, limned by Geoffrey Rush. The first season concluded Tuesday night. Nat Geo said “Genius” qualifies as the channel’s most-watched original series launch to date. In the U.S., viewership averaged 1.8 million total viewers, a strong showing by Nat Geo standards.