About Picasso:
The Spanish legend who made history in the field of art. Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in 1881. Being able to witness the gap between the two centuries, he was also a sculptor and designer. People know him to be one of the standing pillars of modern art. He started painting since he was 11 years old. His father was a professor in drawing, which could be a reason for his early interest.
In his peak years, he had shifted from Spain to France. People associate his life and work with different periods. For instance, some parts of his artistic life were in blue, while some with sculptures, collages, etc.
This is what has been one of the most interesting things about his work. It is as if Pablo’s work when put against the year it came in, can tell one a lot about his feelings. In the time of the ghastly World Wars, it was noticeable that his work reflected the feeling of closeness. During his life, Pablo also worked with several other artists. Some of his most famous works involve Guernica, The Weeping Woman, The Old Guitarist, etc.
Let us now learn more about his painting, Guernica. It hails from the period of cubism in his life.
Unknown Facts About Guernica:
1- Did you know, that Guernica was one of the first political paintings of Picasso? He never intended to showcase political ideologies in his art, but he did so with it.
2- It came after the bombings in Spain in 1937.
3- The Republican government of Spain had asked him to paint Guernica. Yes, although he had no plans of doing so, he did because he received a commission for it. This is also a rare but true commissioned work of Picasso.
4- If you notice the painting from close, you would notice that it is a women-centric art. Yes, it depicts the pain and suffering of the women during the bombings and after it. This way, it is also part of the realism category.
5- The reason why the painting is in monochrome is because of Picasso’s choice. He was going to add colors to it but did not and rather chose to keep it black and white.
6- As Guernica opposed the fascist regime, Germany was one of the strong opposers. They even tried to defame the art by saying that any kid of four years of age could have drawn it with ease.
7- Although different enthusiasts view it differently, Picasso never revealed anything. The hidden symbolism of Guernica is still not known. People look at it and provide their interpretations.
8- Due to its coded nature, it was not received well when it came out. People found it confusing, distracting, and vague. This was one of the reasons why Guernica took some time before gaining appreciation.
Although now lauded as one of the masterpieces of the early 20th century. Guernica is not for everyone. The people who study and know the art of Picasso, know the political value of the painting. It reflects the spark of revolt against fascism back then. It shows the true face of suffering and pain.
