Some (Un) holy War
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Guernica was known as The Holy City of the Basque people. The Nationalists bombed the town during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso captured this tragic event in his monumental Guernica. The painting has largely been read by viewers and scholars as simply an anti-war work, but what if it was more than that? This paper argues that Picasso’s Guernica serves a critical religious function. The display of religious symbols were intended to strike a sentimental chord with viewers, and would have helped in their understanding, and healing.
Presentation Type
Event
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Room 1306
Start Date
2-18-2017 11:30 AM
End Date
2-18-2017 12:30 PM
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Some (Un) holy War
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Room 1306
Guernica was known as The Holy City of the Basque people. The Nationalists bombed the town during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso captured this tragic event in his monumental Guernica. The painting has largely been read by viewers and scholars as simply an anti-war work, but what if it was more than that? This paper argues that Picasso’s Guernica serves a critical religious function. The display of religious symbols were intended to strike a sentimental chord with viewers, and would have helped in their understanding, and healing.
Comments
Art History Session 3: Art in Context: Reexamining Art with the Period Eye
Mentor: Dr. Anne H. Muraoka