Picasso’s Guernica

Decrying the Brutality of War for 65 Years

...to allow Guernica to be sent there until democracy returned, and yet sending it around the world to raise money and awareness. I am also extremely moved by the emotional impact of the images: the woman writhing in pain; the fear and confusion expressed by the bull, and the sheer torture emanating from the horse. I was surprised and saddened to learn that the attack on Guernica was an experiment to determine if civilians could be bombed into submission and surrender their democratic ideals. My research into the painting led me to learn more about the Basque people as well. 

Question #2: Why did I choose this particular topic?

Researching Picasso’s Guernica leads to numerous additional topics: the various stages leading to the final work, Picasso’s state of mind at the time of the event, General Franco’s cooperation with the Nazi Germany, and the far-reaching impact of the attack on the people of Guernica and their future generations.  Where possible, I included some of this information within the project.  Guernica  really didn’t have much of a role during the Cold War, but this was a very political time in Picasso’s life.  I also learned about Eduardo Chillida, the famous Basque sculptor who created the Guernica monument.  

Question #3: What other information did I gather from doing research about this topic?

Questions #2 and #3 (continued)   

Additional historical information about Guernica and its stance against Franco during the Spanish civil war.  Also, this link includes more information about the Spanish Civil War.  http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/guernica.htm

 

History of the Basques, an indigenous people. http://perso.club-internet.fr/mcteguy/baskhise.html

 

 

 

Detailed description of the bombing at Guernica. http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Bombin

 

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· g_of_Guernica#The_first_five_waves_of_bombardment

 

A few more links…

Review by Scottland’s Sunday Herald 10/10/04 of Gijs Van Hensbergen Guernica - The Biography of a Twentieth-Century Icon http://www.sundayherald.com/45261