Picasso's War: The Destruction of Guernica and the Masterpiece That Changed the World: The Destruction of Guernica and the Masterpiece That Changed the World

Author: Martin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: On April 26, 1937, Guernica, a bustling market town in the Basque region of northern Spain, was targeted by the Nazi German Air Force. At the request of Spanish Air Force General Franco and his rebel forces, the air force began a brutal bombing campaign against Guernica's shops, civilian homes, and villages. Three and a half hours later, the town and its surroundings were reduced to rubble, with countless civilian casualties. This marked the first large-scale attack on non-military targets in modern warfare. The act of terrorism and its inhuman cruelty infuriated people around the world, as well as Pablo Picasso. Pablo Picasso, who had relocated to France, immediately responded to the bombing of his homeland by creating one of the greatest artistic works of the 20th century—his oil painting Guernica. Russell Martin explores how Picasso's passion was ignited by the tragedy, documenting the birth of this masterpiece and its decades-long journey across the Americas and Europe, ultimately returning to Spain, which had become a democracy. Martin delves into various themes in the book: conflict and reconciliation, the horrors of war, and the power of art to transform tragic human experiences.