Guernica

By: Pablo Picasso, 1937

Describe

Analyze

Interpret

Picasso depicts a war scene in Guernica. He uses geometric, invented, negative, and organic shapes, black and white colors, and diagonal line to create an overlapped texture and a shallow sense of space.

~ Many shapes create cluttered space
~ Equal weight on both sides
~ Crazy, jutting movement caused by sharp edges and curves of shapes placed in many directions

I think this work is trying to communicate the frustration and tragedy of war. War is originally deep- rooted in anger, but all the craziness and confusion doesn't accomplish anything. Picasso fills the piece with overlapping shapes and lines to give off a commotion-like feeling, showing there is no benefit to war.

Frustration