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Conflict in Picasso


As a result of this Guernica has become a timeless universal portrayal of the terror of war and conflict and is very relevant to our world today.
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             The bombing of Guernica inspired the concept of Guernica, however Picasso's aim was for it to represent the destruction of human civilization by any type of war. With this strong cultural theme the artist has made a powerful stance against war. Picasso's effective use of the simple oils on canvas has created a work that strongly reflects its vibrant Spanish origin whilst expressing a universally understandable concept. These features combine to make Guernica highly appropriate for the cultural framework. .
             Picasso has conveyed the concept of Guernica by making statements exclusively in symbolic form. The combination of motifs that individually have significant and simple meanings results in Guernica portraying a powerful antiwar statement. Evidence from Picasso's studies show a development of these symbols from initial political symbols to motifs with somewhat ambiguous yet worldwide validity. Picasso's symbols in Guernica have been intentionally left to interpretation. Picasso remarked -It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who looks at the picture must interpret the symbols, as they understand them".
             The central figure is a wounded horse, unnaturally posed with its neck wrenched to the left, its mouth wide open revealing a dagger-like tongue. This image is undoubtedly symbolic of immense suffering and represents the people of Guernica and more generally the Spanish republic. By placing this image of sheer animal merciless, suffering in the center of the artwork, the primal scream of pain directly communicates his theme of the horror of war. The horses body is supposedly made up of parallel lines of news print. This relates the work back to Picasso's first knowledge of the devastating event, giving the work personal significance.


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