Reflection of Guernica

J. Collins 1 Jimmy Collins

Guernica, A Reflection Throughout the course of history, artists of all shapes, sizes, and mediums have become politically involved in society. Many times they found themselves using their chosen medium to comment on the values or wrongs of society at the time. Pablo Picasso was not one of these artists; however, during a period of personal and professional turmoil, he was approached by representatives of Spain’s Republican government to paint a mural. At the time, Picasso was living in France and distraught over the events occurring in his homeland. These events would eventually become the Spanish Civil War. He was also quietly supportive of the opposing party. In the mural entitled Guernica, painted for the 1937 World’s Fair in France, Picasso portrayed the barbarianism of Hitler’s regime as they bombed the city of Guernica, Spain. Now part of the permanent collection at Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain, Guernica is housed in its own room due to its size and the sheer magnitude of its presence. Much of Picasso’s other works from the same time period are also housed in this section of the museum. My wife traveled there in 2001 and saw the mural in person. In her opinion, it was such a massive piece that it was almost overwhelming. She said that she spent much time there simply looking at it and trying to process all that Picasso had been trying to convey to the world. Painted with oil on an 11 ft high by 25.6 ft wide canvas, Guernica is a direct commentary on Picasso’s feelings about the bombing of a town during the Spanish Civil

J. Collins 2 War. During this time in Spain’s history, two groups were battling each other for the right to their way of life. The painting shows the horrors of war and the innocent lives that can be devastated by a simple disagreement that grows out of control. The images in the painting are of people, animals, and objects. Many of the images are symbols of what Picasso felt was wrong with the war. The muted tones and shadings of white, black, and grey further serve the purpose of conveying the grimness of the event. Death and destruction were everywhere after the bombing of Guernica and Picasso took this painting as a way of sending his own political message of disapproval and disagreement of the events of that day. Looking from left to right of the painting, there appear to be doorways on either side. This leads the viewer into the thought that the objects in the painting are enclosed in a room of some sort. The fact that there is a light bulb almost directly in the top center of the painting furthers this opinion. Starting from the left of the painting, there is an image of a bull standing over a young woman holding and mourning what can only be presumed is her dead child. This image can symbolize the death of the innocent with the bull serving as a symbol of the fierceness and savage way in which armies can attack on unsuspecting towns. This is something that artists such as Picasso would see as a true tragedy. Surely his inclusion of this image is intended to inflame some viewers while placating others with the acknowledgement of their accomplishments. As the viewer’s eyes move towards the center of the painting, multiple overlapping images are presented. There is a light bulb in the center top of the painting encased in an evil eye. This light bulb is a particularly interesting symbol because it uses

J. Collins 3 a play on the Spanish language to get its point across. “Light bulb” in Spanish is “bombilla” – many people associate this word with “bomb”. In fact, the light bulb relates to Picasso’s idea that the growth of technology in society was more destructive than constructive. Much of what was learned in the bombing of Guernica was later used in the planning and execution of the Blitzkreig that occurred several years later. Same army; similar execution of strategy and warfare. The evil eye that encases the light bulb could be seen as a kind of enigma. The evil eye is supposed to be a symbol to ward off the evil spirits but in this painting, the evil eye seems to be watching over the destruction caused by the evil and approving it, rather than protecting those in danger. Under the evil eye is a horse, obviously in some sort of pain or fear based on the positioning of its head and the open mouth. It almost seems to be screaming for the wrongs that are being done. Lying at the feet of this horse is a dead and dismembered soldier. His severed arm and hand are still clutching his sword. A flower seems to be growing out of that sword. Perhaps this is an image to imply peace arising from the horror of war? Between the bull and the horse, slightly to the viewer’s left of the evil eye, is a dove. The dove is internationally known as a symbol of peace. So what is it doing in this mural of war? Perhaps this is Picasso’s way of encouraging the two sides to work towards a sort of détente? Or is the fact that there are daggers shooting out of the horse’s mouth to kill the dove saying something else? Since Picasso passed in 1973, we will never know for certain, but we can certainly speculate. My theory is that he was recognizing the futility of peace when it came to this particular war. He knew that there

J. Collins 4 was no way for the two sides to reconcile and that the Spanish Civil War had to play itself out. He may not have agreed with it, but he may have accepted its eventuality. Continuing with the viewing of this massive painting (mural), we see overlapping images in the center. There is the same horse mentioned before, but it seems as though there is another animal that has been stabbed superimposed over the horse. People then begin to enter the painting, seemingly through the door on the right. One person is a woman who is hunched over. Another “person” is just a head and neck floating through the doorway. There is also an arm holding a candlestick floating above the head. The final image of a person is only the top half with arms and head stretched to the sky, seemingly in prayer. The candle is directly next to the light bulb/evil eye. Is the presence of the candle simply to contrast the light bulb? Is it Picasso’s way of showing that “newer” doesn’t always mean “better”? Some Picasso scholars have said that there are many hidden images in this painting. The images that are visible to the naked eye and mentioned above will never have their meanings fully understood because Picasso refused to comment officially on the symbolism in his paintings. Those who knew him, those who studied his work and studied him, are the only ones who can even attempt to claim they know the meanings behind the symbols. What we do know is this:  Picasso painted Guernica as a statement against the horror of war, especially the one that was ravaging through his home country. (Ironically, it was on what would have been Picasso’s 100th birthday that

J. Collins 5 the Spanish Civil War ended and the painting was returned to Spain for permanent display.)  Picasso’s use of color, or rather lack thereof, was intended to signify the somber mood of the painting.  Some believe that Picasso placed harlequins in the painting – something he often did. Even while looking at the painting and at a website that described the locations of the harlequins, I could not see them. Perhaps this is because I am unfamiliar with their usage. Pablo Picasso painted many memorable pieces of art and was groundbreaking in his work. His creation of Cubism with Georges Braque is considered to be fundamental in the art world and has labeled him as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Picasso was not only a painter; he was a sculptor, a ceramicist, a print-maker, and a stage designer as well.

The majority of his work still exists and is on display in various venues throughout the world. Much of his early work (sketches and drawings) is in the Picasso Museum in Barcelona as this is where he lived with his family before moving to France. There is also a Picasso museum in France dedicated to his work. Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid also houses many of his paintings and sculptures, including Guernica. Barcelona would always remain home to him and he returned many times throughout his lifetime. His early work is often signed with a variety of signatures including “P.R. Picasso”. The

J. Collins 6 “R” stands for “Ruiz”, his official surname. “Picasso” was his mother’s surname and he eventually adopted it permanently. Pablo Picasso is considered by many to be one of the most prolific artists of the 20th century. The name is known worldwide and many of his paintings are recognizable on sight as his without the benefit of notation. In my opinion, Guernica, his largest and most prolific piece, is the one that begs the most study. For an artist who tried to remain politically neutral in his art, this painting certainly projects the opposite.