Guernica is perhaps the most famous painting by Pablo Picasso (Málaga, 1881 - Notre-Dame-de-Vie in Mougins 1973). It was painted in May and June 1937. The title refers to the bombing of Guernica, which took place on 26 April of that year, during the Spanish Civil War. It was ordered by the Government of the Spanish Republic to be shown at the Spanish Pavilion during the 1937 World Exposition in Paris, in order to attract public attention to the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War. In the 1940s, as the regime of General Franco had been established in Spain, Picasso chose the painting to be exhibited in the Modern Art Museum in New York, and wanted it to be returned to Spain when there was democracy. Therefore, the painting arrived to Spain in 1981. At first, it was exposed to the public in the Casón del Buen Retiro, and afterwards, from 1992 on, at the Reina Sofia in Madrid. Its interpretation is controversial, but its artistic value is not beyond question. Not only it is considered one of the most important works of twentieth century art, but it has become a real "twentieth century icon”, a symbol of the suffering that war inflicts upon any human beings. SYMBOLS IN THE GUERNICA: SEVEN LIVING SYMBOLS: three animals, four people: The bull is the witness of the Dove cries out in pain and tragedy and the symbol of Spain. It symbolizes the broken peace. symbolizes the Spanish people .
Mother with dead son: They Burning woman: it’s a clear picture symbolize the cruelty of war and the of suffering. death of innocent people.
Horse. It is a runaway horse and symbolizes the war. It has a bombshell in its mouth, which is the symbol of war.
Bent woman: she crawls for help.
Woman with an old lamp: She is lighting on the facts in order to highlight them. Some people interpret it as the Republic.
Otros símbolos: Lamp / bulb: Some people believe Statue: There are no male that it represents the technology and characters. This statue on the ground how it can be used to improve symbolizes the dead warrior. human life or, on the other hand, to destroy it.
Flower growing from the broken sword on the ground. It symbolizes that there is still hope.
Picasso drew many drawings and paintings (sketches) so as to create the characters to be included in the picture. The sketches had colours and a lot of details, but everything was simplified in the final picture. Because of its big size, it was going to be seen from afar. Guernica can be considered as a poster against war. Rosa Fernández
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