Guernica - refers to the city that was bombed by Nazi
planes during the Spanish Civil War. Pablo Ruiz Picasso made this painting after the war between the democratic Republican government and fascist forces, led by General Francisco Franco. His painting much emotional power comes from its overwhelming size. Guernica is his most powerful political statement, painted as an immediate reaction to the Nazi's devastating casual bombing practice on the Basque town of Guernica during Spanish Civil War by German air forces. 2nd Slide: Artist It was made by Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, He was born on October 25, 1881 a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet and playwright who spent most of his adult life in France and died on April 8, 1973.
3rd Slide: Medium
Since, this is a painting so it has two dimensional works. He completed the painting by June 1937. A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A distinguishing characteristic of mural
painting is that the architectural elements of the given
space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture. 4th Slide: 2 Dimensional works Since, this is 2 dimensional works so it measured by the length and the width. It has 7.76m or 25ft & 6 in the wide. Also it has 3.49m or 11ft & 5 in the tall/height. 5th Slide: Color He uses color Gray, black, and white. The question is why he uses gray, black, and white? Picasso chose to paint Guernica in a stark monochromatic palette of gray, black and white. This may reflect his initial encounter with the original newspaper reports and photographs in black and white; or perhaps it suggested to Picasso the objective factuality of an eye witness report. A documentary quality is further emphasized by the textured pattern in the center of the painting that creates the illusion of newsprint. The sharp alternation of black and white contrasts across the painting surface also creates dramatic intensity, a visual kinetic energy of jagged movement.
Oil on canvas- Defined as the traditional oil painting
techniques often begin with the artist sketching the subject unto the canvas with charcoal or thinned paint. Oil paint is usually mixed with linseed oil, artist grade mineral spirits or other solvents to create a thinner, faster or slower drying paint. 6th Slide: Composition: The overall scene is within a room where, at an open end on the left, -A wide-eyed bull stands over a woman grieving over a dead child in her arms. -A horse falling in agony-The center is occupied by as if it had just been run. -A spear or javelin. -The large gaping wound in the horse's side is a major focus of the painting. -A dead, apparently dismembered soldier -A shattered sword- his hand on a severed arm still grasps -A flower grows. -An open palm of the dead soldier is a stigma, a symbol of martyrdom derived from the stigmata of Christ. -A light bulb blazes in the shape of an evil eye over the suffering horses head (the bare bulb of the torturer's cell). - A frightened female figure, which seems to be witnessing the scenes before her, appears to have floated into the room through a window. - A flame-lit lamp carried by a floating woman positioned very close to the bulb, and is a symbol of hope, clashing with the light bulb. - An awe-struck woman staggers towards the center below the floating female figure- She looks up blankly into the blazing light bulb. - A Daggers that suggest screaming replace the tongues of the bull, grieving woman, and horse. - A dove- holding an olive branch is scribed on the wall behind the bull. Part of its body comprises a crack in the wall through which bright light (hope or the outside world) can be seen. -A figure with arms raised in terror is entrapped by fire from above and below. The right hand of the man suggests the shape of an airplane. - A dark wall with an open door defines the right end of the mural.