Picasso's Guernica

Picasso’s Guernica is a stunning example of the cubism movement as well as the horrors of war. The painting is massive, much bigger than I was expecting it to be. It is the only thing on the wall, requiring all of your attention to be focused on this masterpiece. The painting is done solely in grey, black, and white which requires you to examine it closely in order to derive meaning. Picasso relies on shapes and lines in order to evoke emotion in his audience. I was really drawn to the far left figures in this painting, which is a mother holding her deceased child. The expression on her face shows so much anguish which you can see from the way Picasso painted her mouth in an open scream, and even the way in which he positioned her eyes. They are in the shape of teardrops and seem to be almost sliding off her face. As a whole, this painting is the very picture of chaos and the distress that war causes. 

Guernica was, and continues to be, a powerful political statement. Picasso created this work in 1937 as a statement against the atrocities that occurred during the Spanish Civil War. It captures the horrors that come from war and the real emotions that people felt during this time. It stands as a symbol of human suffering, but also of human resilience. Speaking about Guernica, Picasso is quoted as saying “My whole life as an artist has been nothing more than a continuous struggle against reaction and the death of art. How could anybody think for a moment that I could be in agreement with reaction and death?” This painting could not have gotten his point across more beautifully. Picasso shows us his skill as an artist and evokes powerful emotions within us. He successfully shows not only that art is alive and well, but that the pain and death coming from war must stop. 

This incredible artwork contributes much to Madrid as a cultural capital. As with many of the artworks in our cultural capitals, this piece draws so many visitors to Madrid and the museum. More visitors means more opportunity for people to appreciate Spain’s history and their diverse culture. It also offers a sense of legitimacy to Madrid being a cultural capital because it shows that they are capable of preserving this art and showing it to the public. It is such a poignant part of history that shows Spain’s resilience during the Spanish Civil War. It stands as a reminder of what the people suffered during this time and all that they lost.