Guernica

Guernica, painted by Picasso, depicts the scene of the Nazi bombing of the city of Guernica in Spain, requested by Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War, using the technique of Cubism (breaking down reality into geometric shapes). The bombing occurred on April 26, 1937, at around 4:30 PM. Franco was the leader of the nationalist forces, which, after the coup d'état in 1936, waged war against the Spanish Republic and, with the help of the Nazi Germans and Italian fascists, won the war in 1939 after three years of intense civil war. The bombing of Guernica was also the first air raid targeting civilians, taking place during a traditional market. 

When the Spanish painter heard the news, he was in Paris and decided to paint this large canvas, measuring 349.3 x 776.6 cm, in just three months. The painting arrived in Spain only after the end of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, which was established after the civil war victory and lasted until his death in November 1975. It was exhibited at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where it is still preserved today.

The painting has several interesting elements, as each figure has a precise symbolic meaning. The woman holding a deceased child on her lap represents the cruelty of war and is also a reference to Michelangelo's Pietà. The burning building represents the destruction caused by the war. The defeated soldier is the only male figure in the painting, and the broken sword he holds, from which a flower emerges, represents hope. The distant dove represents distant peace. The bull also represents brutality. The horse represents the innocence of the citizens. The lamp illuminates the scene.

Cubism is a technique devised by the Spanish artist Picasso and the French painter Braque. It is divided into two types: Analytical and Synthetic. Analytical Cubism involves breaking down reality into small geometric shapes to be observed from multiple viewpoints, while in Synthetic Cubism, the figures are larger. This style is inspired by another French post-impressionist painter, Cézanne, who used to paint using shapes like cylinders and trapezoids in his paintings.

Picasso went through different emotional periods that significantly influenced his works. The "Blue Period," for example, was a time of great despondency, and the paintings from that period are gloomy and depict very sad scenes. The "Rose Period," on the other hand, was a time of great joy, where the subjects were mainly circus performers and dancers. Picasso's longevity also allowed him to experience various periods of art history and to be part of different artistic movements, including Expressionism and Surrealism.