Pablo Picasso - Guernica

In discussing this painting which would become one of the most iconic artworks of all time - Picasso said “If peace wins in the world, the war I have painted will be a thing of the past”

But sadly, even to this day, the suffering depicted here is still just as relevant as ever.

Guernica - 1937

Guernica is one of those artworks that has become so famous, it almost impacts our ability to really see it properly.

Much like how the sublime beauty of the Mona Lisa is sometimes lost due to our sheer familiarity with her image - with Picasso’s masterpiece, the shock value and the underlying message here can similarly be lost as a result of over exposure.

Hence, many viewers meeting this work for the first time nowadays will express either a feeling of confusion (as if this is yet another example of Picasso’s weird, mismatched doodles) . . . or, of repulsion (as if this is not so much of genius, but of psychosis!)

But today, I want us to just take a moment to remember the real inspiration behind this work . . . and, together, perhaps we can come see its true message through fresh eyes once again.

At 11.5 feet tall, and 25.5 feet long . . . Guernica is an enormous painting. And having been completed in a whirlwind of only 35 days - it is worth remembering that it is also an astonishing feat of artistry from a man who was in his mid fifties at the time of its creation.

Originally commissioned by the Spanish Republican government for display at the 1937 Paris World's Fair - the idea had been to create a stand out piece to raise funds and general awareness for the civil war happening in Spain at the time.

But in fact, at the very start of this project, Picasso himself seemed rather nonplussed about it all.

Hence, from January 1937 to the middle of April he completed little more than a few cursory sketches and plans for the kind of image he might create.

But on April 26th - all of that was about to change.

It was Market Day, with beautiful blue skies above, when a fleet of Nazi Aircraft (working directly on behalf of their newly formed allegiance with the Spanish Nationalist rebels) came to bring nothing less than Hell to the quiet town of Guernica.

And in a bombing raid that lasted more than three hours - the entire place was raised to the ground; killing more than 1600 people, with a further 1000 severely injured (most of whom were innocent civilians, women and children.)

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Frankly, it was an event that sent shockwaves around the world; not just for its indescribable tragedy, but even more so, because it signified a whole new age of warfare - the likes of which could cause a devastation that humanity had never known before.

And suffice to say, when Picasso himself learnt of what had happened . . . he sprang into action with the only tools he really knew how to use.

Preparatory Sketch for Guernica - May 11th, 1937

Suddenly, the commission he had never really wanted, now became the most important moment of his career.

And within a matter of weeks, Picasso managed to rent himself a new studio - blaze his way through a series of preparatory sketches, all based on eye witness accounts - buy all necessary equipment - prepare his monumental canvas . . . and, finally, to begin work on the final piece.

The result - as we know - became one of the most famous protest paintings in all of art history.

With its screaming horses, fallen riders, bellowing bulls, wailing mothers, and razor sharp flames, which seem to consume the entire painting. . . Picasso shows us how life’s greatest tragedies do not happen in a well defined order.

Rather, they are convulsive. And chaotic. And shatter our sense of reality to such an extent, it is as if we are looking at our world through a broken mirror.

And, as if to hammer this point home even more - Picasso chooses to paint in Monochrome too; not only as a symbol for mourning - but also as a final message that if we continue to engage in so much destruction, or repeat these endless horrors of war - then, inevitably, the day will soon come when all colour will be gone from our world permanently.

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A vital message. Just as much now, as it was back then.

Picasso at work on Guernica - Credit Pablo Picasso . org

Bonus Story

P.s There is one final story I always like to tell about Guernica too. But, as it did not fit into the main essay today - I wanted to touch on it briefly here instead.

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It comes from some time in the 1940s, during the Second World War - when Picasso was still living in Paris, and would often have to suffer through studio visits from Nazi soldiers or members of the Gestapo.

Essentially, these men had been tasked with rooting out any art / artists that were deemed “not suitable” for their agenda at the time. And, as you can imagine, men like this would often take a strange pleasure in striking a bit of fear into whoever they met - just to make sure they knew who was really in charge here!

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So, on one particular visit to Picasso’s studio, an officer actually brought with him a small newspaper clipping, which featured a picture of Picasso’s notorious “Guernica” painting.

And while locking his eyes on the artist with a stern gaze (obviously hoping to see the famous man in Paris reduced to a cowering wreck)- the officer handed the little clipping to Picasso, saying “Did you do this?”

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Picasso glanced briefly at the paper.

But to the surprise of all who were present that day - the artist did not even flinch.

Instead, he simply looked back at the officer again - pointing to the Nazi flag on the man’s uniform.

And, with an astonishing level of composure, Picasso simply replied:

“No. You did it!”

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