Guernica Analysis
1.) Describe this artwork.
"Guernica" by Pablo Picasso is a large piece with a page of a story in each part of the canvas. This piece is a monochromatic cubist piece. Looking at this piece straight ahead, there are many places the eye is drawn. I viewed "Guernica" in person at the Reina Sofia and it is grand in its dimensions, almost panoramic. The painting is done with oil paints. From the left of the canvas, you see four faces, three of the faces are human-like, the mouths of the white faces are expressionistic. Two dead soldiers are presented in the first section of the painting, one is in the arms of a screaming woman, the other one has it's bludgeoned arm laid out above its head extending to the left corner of the canvas. The next face you see in the left section is a bull, its mouth is ajar, its head is turning towards the noise of the screaming woman. The middle of the painting is mostly white, there is a horse with a face of pure agony, the scene takes place in a room, the lightbulb next to the horse's head allows us to make that assumption. Next to the head of the dying horse is an outstretched arm with a firm grip on a candlestick, under the illumination, at the bottom of the canvas is a disfigured arm, the hand grips a jagged weapon. On the right side of the canvas, you can see disfigured people with their mouths running in the direction of the dying horse, limbs are dragging, a person with outstretched arms looks terrified.
2.) Processes that were used to create this piece, what social influences is Picasso responding to and why?
Picasso is responding to the Spanish Civil War, there are many victims of war being represented in this piece. The bombing of the town Guernica took place on April 26th, 1937, this piece was created in 1937 as well. Picasso reshaped his figures with a series of preliminary sketches when he began his composition for the future mural. With this piece, there is a clear emotion being expressed throughout the painting. He laid the images out on the canvas for the mural as he wanted to create the illusion of a newspaper with the colors used.
3.) What is the relationship of this work to the time and society in which it was created? Describe the symbols used to express this relationship.
With the Guernica painting, Picasso learned about it while reading the newspaper. Guernica was a commissioned piece, the bombing was an aerial attack over Basque, it is said that 1,654 died and 889 were wounded. The piece was started as soon as Picasso was made aware of it. Picasso used the monochromatic color scheme to relate to the newspaper he learned about the bombing in. The piece became a symbol of the lives lost and was one of Picasso's most powerful political statements. The bull is meant to represent the "onslaught of fascism" and the destruction caused by the bombing. The horse is very tough, it represents the people of Guernica.
4.) Identify elements in the work that evokes a persuasive or emotional response. Be specific about what those responses are and why.
In the painting, the parts that evoke the most emotional response are definitely the facial expressions on the people presented. The arms out, necks craned, mouth open and eyes wide depicts a pain that heavily translates. The lack of color in the artwork is important too, it shows that it was a dark event for the citizens of Guernica to go through, the geometric approach reveals that it is not an abstract event, it actually happened and there are hard edges to prove it. The screams of the people are loud and can be heard through the painting. The simulation of victims of war is heavily represented.
5.) Evaluate what you perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the work. Apply discipline-specific vocabulary and concepts when describing your point of view.
The strengths heavily outweigh the weaknesses within this piece, Picasso knew he had actual victims to bring representation to, therefore, he gave this mural-like painting his all. The use of lines throughout the painting are deliberate and using monochromatic colors really allowed for the smoke of the bombing to be fully represented, and how this was a truly dark time for the people of Guernica. The only part of the painting that doesn't translate well to me is the direct center, I cannot fully make out what is supposed to be in the center with the white, I suppose it's supposed to represent light coming into the room the people occupy but it gets jumbled.
3.) What is the relationship of this work to the time and society in which it was created? Describe the symbols used to express this relationship.
With the Guernica painting, Picasso learned about it while reading the newspaper. Guernica was a commissioned piece, the bombing was an aerial attack over Basque, it is said that 1,654 died and 889 were wounded. The piece was started as soon as Picasso was made aware of it. Picasso used the monochromatic color scheme to relate to the newspaper he learned about the bombing in. The piece became a symbol of the lives lost and was one of Picasso's most powerful political statements. The bull is meant to represent the "onslaught of fascism" and the destruction caused by the bombing. The horse is very tough, it represents the people of Guernica.
4.) Identify elements in the work that evokes a persuasive or emotional response. Be specific about what those responses are and why.
In the painting, the parts that evoke the most emotional response are definitely the facial expressions on the people presented. The arms out, necks craned, mouth open and eyes wide depicts a pain that heavily translates. The lack of color in the artwork is important too, it shows that it was a dark event for the citizens of Guernica to go through, the geometric approach reveals that it is not an abstract event, it actually happened and there are hard edges to prove it. The screams of the people are loud and can be heard through the painting. The simulation of victims of war is heavily represented.
5.) Evaluate what you perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the work. Apply discipline-specific vocabulary and concepts when describing your point of view.
The strengths heavily outweigh the weaknesses within this piece, Picasso knew he had actual victims to bring representation to, therefore, he gave this mural-like painting his all. The use of lines throughout the painting are deliberate and using monochromatic colors really allowed for the smoke of the bombing to be fully represented, and how this was a truly dark time for the people of Guernica. The only part of the painting that doesn't translate well to me is the direct center, I cannot fully make out what is supposed to be in the center with the white, I suppose it's supposed to represent light coming into the room the people occupy but it gets jumbled.
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