Guernica, 1937 by Pablo Picasso Shannon Frost and Mary Catherine Taylor August 12, 1999 Pablo Picasso Born in Spain  Known as the most famous artist of the 20th century  Lived from 1881-1973  Pablo Picasso is considered a Modernist in terms of art history  Guernica Historical Context of Guernica, 1937    Commissioned by the Spanish Republican Government to create a mural The Spanish Civil War broke out July 18, 1937 The massacre of the village Guernica became the image for the mural Biographical Context: Why the Spanish Civil War Affected Picasso?   Picasso was a Spaniard with strong populist beliefs He was moved by the tragedy of the war Aesthetic Analysis of Guernica  Elements – – – – – –  Line Shape / Form Space Texture Value Color Arrangement of the elements Lines – – – – – – – Thin lines Mechanical Lines Organic lines Fine point instrument Asymmetrical Not drawn to scale Horizontal, vertical, and curved lines Shape and Form Triangles  Ovals  Rectangles  Square  Circles  Space  Two-dimensional perspective Texture  Combination – – Some objects appear smooth, no brush strokes or scratch marks Some objects appear rough Value  There is high contrast between light and dark in this work – There is no evidence of a light source because there are no shadows Color Somber tones of gray  Charcoal  Black  White  Shannon and Mary Catherine’s Critical Interpretation Pain and despair  Abandonment of hope  Cubist in origin  Critical Interpretation by Scholars There is no hope depicted in the colors, figures, and complex symbolism  Bull is brutality and darkness  Horse represents the innocence of the civilian victims  The weeping woman is Picasso’s mistress, Dora  Educational Interpretation  Lesson Plan – – – – School Setting Rational Virginia Standards of Learning Art Objectives