Guernicas History Essay - 1081 Words

Guernicas History The word art is an encompassing one, vastly interpreted and with multiple definitions. In the case of Picassos painting Guernica, art informs, educates and expresses. Its power lies in its ability to capture and compel an audience nearly six decades after the modern worlds other day of infamy. To understand fully the painting that evolved out of the Spanish painters outrage, one must know its context. Why do you think I date everything I do? Because it is not sufficient to know an artists works--it is also necessary to know when he did them, why, under what circumstances (Picasso). An appreciator who knows the saga of Spains historical fishing village is given a depth of experience that only a genius like†¦show more content†¦The apparent goal of the assault was hitting a bridge near an important road junction that possibly could be used in the future by Republican forces. Given that the intent was only to hit the bridge, Von Richthofen would have used his Stuka dive bombers , capable of carrying a single bomb weighing 1,000 pounds. Equipped with the latest bomb sights, a Stuka had a high chance of taking out the bridge with one direct hit. Even a near miss would have made a powerful shock wave that, if it did not cause the bridge the bridge to collapse, would doubtless have made it unsafe for traffic (Gordon, Morgan 1975). The Condor Legion had had many successful missions to prove their accuracy. For example, they succeeded in dropping provisions squarely into the courtyard of the besieged Nationalist city of Alcazar. For the Guernica mission the Condor Legion was equipped with airplanes consisting of three German types, Junkers and Heinkel bombers and Heinkel fighters which were loaded with 3,ooo pounds of bombs weighing up to 550 pounds each along with more than 3,ooo two-pounder aluminum incendiary projectiles (Fisch 1983). From 4:30 to 7:45 in the evening the squadron poured an uncontested, continuous rain of bombs and gun fire on Guernica. Normal procedure would have been to observe the fall ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Pablo Picassos Guernica1228 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout history, art has been a powerful medium for political expression. Strong, moving images create a visual experience that calls for global attention to a cause. One of the most famous examples of using art to bring the world’s focus to a cause is Pablo Picasso’s painting, Guernica. In 1937, Francisco Franco, the ruler of Spain, allowed German and Italian planes to bomb a small town, called Guernica, in order to test their bombing tactics. Guernica became the result of Picasso’s outrage toRead MoreGuernica: Investigating the Impact Essay1047 Words   |  5 Pagesbecame an icon for the futility of war in general. The emphasized individual and shared sentiments about Guernica were mirrored internationally a nd swayed the viewpoints of subsequent generations, including my own. While Guernica reflects a point in history its global impact unites people in a shared understanding of war and violence that has surpassed the event itself. The social and political significance of the Spanish Civil War has been long overshadowed by World War II (WWII), which began shortlyRead MoreGuernica a Paint by Pablo Ruiz Picasso1471 Words   |  6 Pages1937 German bombing of the Basque town of Guernica in northern Spain which was destroyed. It is 25 feet wide and 11 feet high, a mural size canvas painted in oil and was completed within seven weeks. Guernica is an extraordinary monument within the history of modern art (Fisch, 1983). It was executed entirely in black, white, and gray, and projects and image of pain, suffering, and brutality. It shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon innocent people. Guernica was displayed aroundRead MoreIntertextual Analysis of Works of Art2998 Words   |  12 Pagesmore socially conscious and philosophically all encompassing of several styles and medias than art works previous to this era. Contemporary art is experimental and often includes crossbreeds of styles, as well as mixes of many varied periods of art history from earlier times to the present times. Contemporary art cultivates toward conceptual, political and social messages, addressing feminism, multiculturalism, globalization, bioengineering and AIDS, among other trends. Contemporary art is created in