Guernica

• Artist:

  Created by Spanish artist: Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
• Year: (Post 1850)


  1937
• Materials:

  Oil on Canvas
• Size:

  349.3 x 776.6 cm - extremely large as it is a History painting. It’s physical monumentality reinforces its epic anti-war message.
• Colour

  Monochromatic: Black and white reminicent of newspaper print - where Picasso learned about this horrific attack. Could also be interpreted as life-destroying meaning of war: draining emotion, humanity and colour out of life.
• Context:

  • Based on the tragedy of the bombing of a small Basque town in Spain (Guernica).
  • Guernica was bombed by 28 German Bombers (under Hitler’s command and in alliance with Spain’s facist leader General Franco) during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
  • Among the first aerial bombardments in which the civilians were deliberately attacked.
  • Many of the casualties were women and children.
  • the scene of ruination clearly had an unprecedented effect upon Picasso as he began his epic portrayal within 15 days of the attack (saw the photographs of the bombed town in the newspapers).
• Critical debates: “Guernicas’” 2003 cover-up


  The United Nations Building in New York has a tapestry copy of ‘Guernica‘. On Feb 5th 2003, the work was covered with a blue certain so it would not be visible in the background when US Secretary of State Colin Powell gave a press comference concerning the war in Iraq.

  Contreversy ensued, although official sources claimed that the curtain was necessary as an appropriate backdrop for television. Picasso’s masterpiece was considered too ‘busy’ (distracting) for TV viewers.
• Formal analysis:

  • (Composition) The painting moves from right to left, focuses attention on bull in the left corner (symbol of Spain).
  • Mother shrieks in terror-mourns dead child; dismembered corpse of soldier lies in foreground, panic-stricken horse (suffering) gesticulates towards mother.
  • figures posture: angst-ridden, engulfing flames=destruction, sword on the foreground=defeat, and daggers replace tongues.
  • the eye-like light bulb at top of piece, reminicent of torture/cell (reminder of the advanced technology that brought destruction- symbol of all-seeing eye of God, passing judgement.
• • Where is the piece located now?

  The Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid, Spain
• What is the style? Give a short definition

  Cubism (started in early 20th century) = new approach to representing reality, expressing abstracted objects from many angles at once.
• What is the purpose of the piece?

  (Anti-war) Depict a fictitious scene, evoking the suffering of all wars due to the lack of specific historical detail, causing the piece to be dubbed timeless.
• • Give two critical texts

  Intro: “the last great history painting” (Robert Hughes)Conclusion: “the most powerful invective against violence in modern art” (Robert Hughes)