Pablo Picasso's Guernica

Throughout history, art has been one of the major ways humans use to express their feelings and mood. This is because art is a calm and subjective way of interrupting the world. Although very few artists have explained their pieces of art, it is up to the viewer to interpret the work. Art has been used as a way to ridicule, idolize, and depict the image of people throughout history. An artist whose ties to Spain are prevalent in most of his work is Pablo Picasso. Most of his paintings depict a bull; an iconic image of Spain. Pablo Picasso's Guernica (1937) is his was of depicting the negative effects of war. By using the bull to symbolize the protagonists as Spain, the pain and suffering the people are in, and the use of darkened colours.

Firstly, Picasso's use of the bull in the painting symbolizes the protagonist as Spain. Its people are in pain and the following quote shows that."He (Bull) is alternately sad as indicated by the position of his pupils and the bent of his head or aroused in fury as indicated by his gallop and wide open eyes" (Spence, 1965, p. 354). Its appearance shows that Spain is in a state of sorrow and despair by the look of his eyes. However, there is hope and inspiration to make a change and end the suffering. It also explains that the bull is in a rage, ready to fight back against the corrupt government."The bull, at once hero and victim of the traditional combat, stands at the left of the shallow stage..." (Fiero, 2011, p. 69). This quote demonstrates the role reversal; the bull (Spain) which once represented a great and powerful country is now a submissive entity. In essence, the bull that represents the protagonist as Spain is portraying the emotions of the innocent; depression and fury.

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...ently, and views it differently as well. There are no set rules for art, it can be done in any way the painter wishes it to be. Art has been engraved in our evolution since human existence. Art is a unique trait that only humans engage in and will continue to do so until the end of time. I believe that the future of art will continue to be the most efficient way we humans express our feelings.

Works Cited

- Fiero, G.K. (2011). The humanistic tradition: modernism, postmodernism, and the global prospective 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.

- Elsen, A., (1972). Purposes of art 3rd ed. Canada: Holt,Rinehart & Winston of Canada.

- Thomas, S. (1965). Art Journal. Guernica, 24, 354.

- Kathleen, B. (2001). The Burlington magazine. Guernica: The Apocalypse of Representation 143, pp. 80-85.

- Rocio, T. (2009). Pablo Picasso Guernica 1937. Barcelona: Ediciones LaCentral