comparison and analysis of two war pieces
Comparison and Analysis
Ever since the agony caused by the First World War, society has been battling the idea of warfare. The need for conflict is debatable; the benefits are a lot harder to envision than the losses it causes. As a result of the inevitable occurrence of warfare in the world…war artists emerge. Documenting different aspects of conflict through their art. ‘War art is not a typical or traditional ‘genre’ of art, however we could argue that it is a concoction of various genres such as landscapes, scenes from daily life, portraiture and possibly still life’. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica has become what is now seen as one of the most powerful anti-war paintings of the century, ‘as one commentator puts it: “Picasso often stressed the need for the modern artist to be a visual kleptomaniac, and with Guernica he didn’t disappoint.” ’ After having the pleasure of seeing this outstanding piece myself at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, it is immediately understandable how this piece is the focus of a great amount of criticism and is often described as anti war propaganda. Unlike war artist, Xavier Pick who chooses to describe his work as capturing moments of peace rather than destruction. Much like Picasso, Pick also chooses to capture the atmosphere of warfare, however of a more modern period. It is interesting to see how Picasso’s Guernica expresses no signs of optimism, whereas Xavier Pick’s work demonstrates diplomatic or peaceful intentions, which makes us question the possibility of warfare actually changing over the centuries, to become something far less horrific than the evident agony portrayed in Guernica.
(Picasso, P. 1937. Guernica)
(Pick, X. 2010. Marsh Arabs Shepherding Their Flocks on Leaf Island, Basra. Two Merlin Helicopters In The Distance)
Xavier Pick describes himself as a ‘peace artist’. "People refer to me as a war artist," said Pick, who spent six weeks with military forces in Basra. "I prefer to think of myself as an
Ever since the agony caused by the First World War, society has been battling the idea of warfare. The need for conflict is debatable; the benefits are a lot harder to envision than the losses it causes. As a result of the inevitable occurrence of warfare in the world…war artists emerge. Documenting different aspects of conflict through their art. ‘War art is not a typical or traditional ‘genre’ of art, however we could argue that it is a concoction of various genres such as landscapes, scenes from daily life, portraiture and possibly still life’. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica has become what is now seen as one of the most powerful anti-war paintings of the century, ‘as one commentator puts it: “Picasso often stressed the need for the modern artist to be a visual kleptomaniac, and with Guernica he didn’t disappoint.” ’ After having the pleasure of seeing this outstanding piece myself at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, it is immediately understandable how this piece is the focus of a great amount of criticism and is often described as anti war propaganda. Unlike war artist, Xavier Pick who chooses to describe his work as capturing moments of peace rather than destruction. Much like Picasso, Pick also chooses to capture the atmosphere of warfare, however of a more modern period. It is interesting to see how Picasso’s Guernica expresses no signs of optimism, whereas Xavier Pick’s work demonstrates diplomatic or peaceful intentions, which makes us question the possibility of warfare actually changing over the centuries, to become something far less horrific than the evident agony portrayed in Guernica.
(Picasso, P. 1937. Guernica)
(Pick, X. 2010. Marsh Arabs Shepherding Their Flocks on Leaf Island, Basra. Two Merlin Helicopters In The Distance)
Xavier Pick describes himself as a ‘peace artist’. "People refer to me as a war artist," said Pick, who spent six weeks with military forces in Basra. "I prefer to think of myself as an
Bibliography: Brandon, L (2007), Art and War, London: Tauris. Harries, M (1983), The war artists : British official war art of the twentieth century, London : Joseph in association with the Imperial War Museum and the Tate Gallery Journals Polyxeni, P. (2003). Pablo Picasso (1881–1973). Guernica (1937). Oil on canvas, 350 cm x 782 cm. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 9 (6), 760-761. Watkins, J. (2010). Picasso’s Guernica: Propaganda, Art, or Revelation?, Available: http://www.transpositions.co.uk/2010/07/picassos-guernica-propaganda-art-or-revelation/, Last accessed 7th December 2012. Unknown, (2009), Guernica, 1937 by Pablo Picasso, Available: http://www.pablopicasso.org/guernica.jsp, Last accessed 9th December 2012. Pick, X. (2010), Xavier Pick - preview to Iraq War Artist documentary.Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4KduzZRZ9s, Last accessed 11th December 2012. Weigel, C. (2004), PICASSO’S GUERNICA A Sum of Destructions.Available: http://www.nicheless.com/misc/guernica.pdf, Last accessed 30th November 2012.