Bridge Project: Part I

Weaving all of the information learned, and experienced, this year to create a narrative of Humanities.

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Protest has always been a part of any society for a plethora of reasons throughout history, fighting the individuals or group of people in charge of the monopoly of terror cast upon those that feel hurt, oppressed, angry, or scared. Protest can be, and has been, expressed through many mediums such as paintings, films, photography, and music. Whether the protest is direct or indirect, it is always backed by someone with a purpose and strong desire to make a change or expose the true feelings of one's self or common group that understands the conflict and shares the similar pain.

Such example of this protest that takes the form of a painting is Guernica by Pablo Picasso.

This painting speaks layers. It speaks volumes. It speaks truth and trouble. Guernica was made by the infamous Spanish cubism painter and sculptor. The purpose of this perplexing painting is to highlight the atrocity of war and the way it affected Spain's citizens, animals, landscape, and history in the 1930's. It is based off the 1939 bombing of a town called Guernica in Spain by German Nazi's during the Spanish Civil War. It is the painters take on the hurt that was felt nationally and how it changed the political regime and balance in the state's current (in the given time) and future history.

Besides the obscure and weird shapes that jumps out the painting, the thing that stands out the most is the color palette for the mural. Black and white was chosen not only to convey a sense of seriousness and brutal lack of happiness and joy, but to strip away any distractions from the overall message Picasso is trying to project. Black and white forces the viewer to focus on the message rather than the object of the painting (though of course the painting is subjectively beautiful in its own right). Additionally, the omission of color is to highlight and focus on specific parts of the painting and specific expressions and symbolic parts.

Scanning the painting from left to right, so much is packed and is symbolically placed to represent Spain and the cruelty of the war. 2500 civilians were killed from the bombing, according to the online textbook, making the painting more meaningful in its interpretation of war and destruction. Dividing the painting into three sections, it is easier to focus on specific parts because of the vastness of symbolic meaning and metaphors of each subject/element.

The bull to the far left reflects the importance of bulls in Spanish culture and history. It stands tall and powerful which also symbolizes the strength and honor of Spanish people; proudness and patriotism to their nation. Not only does the bull represent the patriotism and honor of Spanish people, but the fire-like tail on the bull signifies that the honor and patriotism and strength of the Spanish people is on fire and is hurt and is weakened. This signifies both literally and figuratively that the countries bull is wounded and on fire by the aerial bombing. Also, according to www.spanish-art.org, Pablo Picasso stated that the bull represented "brutality and destruction". Below the bull is a woman, holding what can be presumed is her child, dead because he was affected by the bombs. The mother is grieving and screaming in agony, a tragedy that is common in times of war where the innocent die. Below her is a decapitated head and arm of a soldier (I assume). This further paints the imagery of the war and the bombings devastating effect to the populated country.

The other subjects of the painting are increasingly frustrating and flabbergasting such as the horse that has a sword pierced through its core. The arm of the decapitated soldier can be seen, holding a broken sword symbolizing the fall and weakened Spanish army and resistance. The protection is faulted and no longer useful against the bombs delivered. More civilians can be depicted in the right side of the painting; a ghostly figure holding a candle which signifies hope among the war, a woman dragging her foot whom appears to be wounded, and another individual screaming towards the sky in fear and worry.

Picasso's rendering of the war is impacting to show the devastation that came to the country of culture. Spain suffered an extensive Civil War and the bombings from Germany only made their state worse. He painted this to show the sadness of the people. He painted this to protest the war and to call for action from leaders and top officials. This painting mirrored his attitude and emotions of dismay and sorrow. He, presumably, was deeply affected and saddened which is heavily conveyed in the painting.