Who was Picasso?
Picasso used each of these distinct approaches to explore aesthetics, figurative subjects, emotions, and reality.
He is considered to be one of the most influential figures of modern art.
During this time, Spain was in the midst of a civil war between the Republicans and the Nationalists.
The piece was completed in just 35 days.
Guernicadepicts theaftermath of the bombingwithin one contained space.
Photograph of Pablo Picasso, 1962 (Photo: Public domain viaWikimedia Commons)
Most of thefigures overlap one another, creating more shapes and narratives within these extra spaces.
Picasso said of the painting’s symbolism: It isn’t up to the painter to define the symbols.
Otherwise, it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words!
Photograph of the Guernica ruins, 1937 (Photo viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0 de)
The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.
Later, the painting was sent to the United States to help raise funds for Spanish refugees.
Picasso said thatGuernicashould only be returned to Spain once it had reestablished a republic.
Finally, in 1981, the monumental piece was transferred back to its home country.
Today, it can be seen at theReina Sofia Museumin Madrid.
