Guernica (1951)

During the Spanish Civil War in 1937, German warplanes bombed the Basque city of Guernica at the request of the Spanish National Army government, causing serious casualties. Picasso, aroused by righteous indignation, painted the tragic situation like purgatory, the burning house, the panicked people and animals, the howling bereaved mother, complaining of the brutality of the war. To this end, Picasso broke with dictator Franco and went into exile in Paris without returning home. The painting was originally collected in the Metropolitan Museum of the United States. After the death of Franco Franco, he returned to his hometown in accordance with Picasso's last words. Picasso made his own contribution to the protection of art treasures during his tenure as honorary curator of gallery appointed by the Republican government in 1936. In early 1937, he created the etching of Franco's Dreams and Lies. This is a set of comic prints with 18 pictures, plus an obscure poem that vilifies Franco. The painter donated the money to the Republican government by selling copies of the paintings. In the creation of this group of works, the "April 26 event" took place. Therefore, the last four pictures in this group are closely related to the future creation of Guernica Guernica.