Guernica by Pablo Picasso (1937)
What we learned-
- Picasso was the father of Cubism, which explains why the figures and faces are contorted and rearranged (a signature of the movement!).
- This mural was commissioned by the Spanish government to remember the bombing of Guernica (in Basque Country) during the Spanish Civil War on April 26, 1937 during which many civilians were killed.
Discussion Questions:
- Why did Picasso choose to only use black, white and gray (no color) in the mural?
- What does the light bulb (to which many of the figures are raising their arms or eyes) represent?
- Are there any other events you’ve learned about in history which could be commemorated in art? What would you paint?
