Interpreting Great Paintings #2: 'Guernica' (1937) by Pablo Picasso
Picasso's 'Guernica' is a considerable painting by any measure: its scale, the importance of its subject matter, and the depth and complexity of its symbolism. In this video I present another of my personal interpretations of a great artwork.
While many elements of the painting are relatively clear, I believe there is a lot of other symbolism hidden within the work. I share with you the results of many years of studying the tangle of overlapping component images, showing how they can be reframed to form ghosts, birds and a number of skulls.
I also address the question of why Picasso decided to use so much hidden imagery within 'Guernica'.
But do you agree with my interpretation? And the reason for Picasso's choices? I'd love to see your views posted in the Comments section. And please don't forget to Like and Subscribe!
The original of 'Guernica' can be found here: www.museoreina...
And finally here are some additional notes that didn't make it into the video:
1. the Lambs Skull on the left could belong to to the idea of a slaughtered lamb running right across the painting where the woman's legs walking in on the right are also the legs of the lamb. This explains why the woman's legs looks like a leg of mutton rather than human. All this is illustrated with a red line in the final image presented at the end of the video.
2. the Ghost holding the naturally lit candle holds it up to expose the mechanical behaviour symbolized by the electric light bulb at the top of the hidden Nazi's skull.
3. The dead baby's head on the left is also the nose of the lamb.
Пікірлер: 12
Very interesting. Wish I'd seen this before I saw the painting itself. Wonderful painting!
@GreatArtistsSteal
3 жыл бұрын
thanks Mel.
Superb Ian, very interesting. It is the first time I hear such ideas about Guernica. Thank you for sharing them with us!
@GreatArtistsSteal
3 жыл бұрын
thanks Laura
Thank you Ian. Really interesting. Great to hear your voice again...very quiet here now.
@GreatArtistsSteal
3 жыл бұрын
thanks Jo,. I will send you an email shortly.
This is the second time I have watched this video, absolutely fascinating analysis. I need to watch it a third time as There is so much to absorb. I actually have seen this painting in the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, where they were holding a special Picasso exhibition about Picasso and poetry, with paintings on loan from the French Picasso museum. I remember he had an interest in Doves during the Second World War as he was a conscientious objector. I had a sudden thought this time while watching, the shapes remind me of Japanese Origami, which was the art of folding paper into shapes!
@GreatArtistsSteal
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Ross,, thanks for such an interseting comment. Yes I thought the same about the influence of Japanese Origami when cutting out the dove, but if you look at the horse it also has a Japanese feel about it. It’s his use of line.
Bravo
@GreatArtistsSteal
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ale Marv
Hi Ian are you taking the Monday class asper usual at scola? Hope all is well. jo
@GreatArtistsSteal
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Jo I sent you an email