of 14
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GuernicaGroup 13
Jessica FitzGerald, Stephanie Fuller,
Daniel Rolph & Dayle Sanders
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Sources
The Times [Online Archive]
The International Handbook on Innovation, Shavinina, V. L
Picassos Guernica: History, Transformations, Meanings, Chipp, H. B.
La Destruccon de Guernica Vidal, C (Translated byMiller, P)
Guernica! Guernica! Southworth, R. H.
Figure 1
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The Spanish Civil War
Began 17th July 1936 with a Pronunciamiento (Spanish for declaration or
announcement) by Military leaders
The Rebels wanted the reinstatement of the Spanish Monarchy, as well as
the repeal of laws restricting the power of the catholic church
The two sides were known as Nationalists (rebel forces) and Republicans (those
opposed to the revolution)
Nationalists were supported by Germany and Italy
Republicans were supported by the Soviet union and International Brigades
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Attack on Guernica
On 26th April, aircraft of the Condor Legionand Aviazione Legionaria attacked theBasque Town of Guernica
Attack began at 4:30 in the evening, with 5
waves of bombers attacking with highexplosive and incendiary bombs
During and after the raid, fighter aircraftmachine-gunned people on the roads inand around Guernica, including the Timesspecial correspondent
Estimated Casualties between 200 400,although Basque propaganda claimed over1600.
Figure 2
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The Mural
In January 1937, Picasso was approached to create a mural for Spanish Republics
pavilion at Paris World Fair
The Pavilion was propaganda for Spanish Republicans, demonstrating that they
were still the elected government of Spain, and Franco was not in charge
Picassos initial concept for the mural was The Artist and His Model
Following the Attack on Guernica, Picasso decided to portray the horror of war,
and its effect upon civilians
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Art is not made to decorate rooms. It is an offensive weapon in
the defence against the enemy- Picasso
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Artistic Influences
The Chromatic Austerity of the picture is related to the harshness and brutality
of the bombing of Guernica, and helps convey this to the viewer
Cubism was the most radical form of artistic expression at the time, which gave it a
modern, contemporary feel
Goyas series Disasters of Waris reflected in several of the figures in the painting
Figure 3 Figure 4
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Guernica
The Mother and Child are very compact, and reference propaganda
posters of the time.
The mirroring of the falling woman by the mother and child
references images of the crucifixion, providing religious overtones.
The image is a depiction of Picassos own feelings about the attack
on Guernica, rather than an attempt to document the actual event.
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Symbolism in Guernica
The Bull and the Horse are a recurring theme in Picassos work
Unlike other works where they are depicted locked in combat, in
Guernica they are brought together by events
The horses head is thrown back in a scream, showing both its pain
and defiance
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Symbolism in Guernica
The horses head frames the spear that has pierced its side; spears are weapons of
war, rather than part of bullfighting.
The bull stands over the mother and child in a protective stance, while it stares out
of the painting with human-like eyes.
The bull is not an exclusively Spanish symbol, rather it represents the
Mediterranean region as a whole.
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Impact ofGuernica
At the time, Guernica was mostly ignored by the world press, due to the late
opening of the Spanish Pavilion
Now widely seen as one of the strongest anti-war images
Most famous depiction of the effects of war
In 1955, Nelson Rockefeller commissioned a tapestry copy ofGuernica, which is
hung in front of the door to the United Nations Security Council
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A picture is not thought of and settled beforehand. While it is being done it
changes as ones thoughts change. And when it is finished it still goes on
changing, according to the state of mind of whoever is looking at it. A picture
lives a life like a living creature, undergoing the changes imposed on us by our
life, from day to day. This is natural enough, as the picture lives only through
the man who is looking at it. Picasso
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List of Illustrations
Figure 1. Picasso, P (1937) Guernica [Oil on canvas] At:http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/110images/sl24_images/guernica_details/guernica_
all.jpg (Accessed on 01/03/2011)
Figure 2. Guernica [Photograph] At: https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0522/5b0422d6aa680/5b0422ddb(Accessed on 01/03/2011)
Figure 3. Picasso, P (1937) Guernica [Oil on canvas] At:http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/110images/sl24_images/guernica_details/guernica_
all.jpg (Accessed on 01/03/2011)
Figure 4. Goya, F (1810)Bitter Presence [Etching] At:
http://www.everypainterpaintshimself.com/article/goyas_disasters_of_war/ (Accessed on 02/03/2011)
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Bibliography
Chipp, H. B. (1989) Picassos Guernica: History, Transformations, Meanings London: Thames and Hudson
Ltd
Seitz, C. W. (1983) Abstract expressionist painting in America. (1st ed.) Washington: Harvard University
Press
Shavinina, V. L. (2003) The international handbook on innovation. (1st ed.) Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd.
Southworth, R. H. (1977) Guernica! Guernica! : A Study of journalism, diplomacy, propaganda, and history
(1st ed.) USA: University of California Press
Tonge, Stephen (2011) The Spanish Civil War[Online] At:
http://www.historyhome.co.uk/europe/spaincw.htm (Accessed on 28/02/2011)
The Times Special Correspondent (1937) Bombing of Guernica In: The Times [Online archive] At:
http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1937-05-06-15-
001&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1937-05-06-15 (Accessed on 28/02/2011)
Vidal, C (1997) La Destruccon de Guernica [Translated by Miller, P] [Online] At:
http://www.buber.net/Basque/History/guernica-ix.html (Accessed on 01/03/2011)