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TASK 1

1. Why do you think Picasso included a bull in this painting? Why is the symbol of the bull relevant to
Spanish culture?(Subjective Frame)
I think that there might be two reasons why Picasso might have included a bull in the painting. The
first is that it would symbolise the painting as a Spanish one because the Spanish are renowned for
the Bull Run bull fighting and bull torturing. The second reason that I think he included a bull in his
painting is irony because the Spanish force the bulls to compete in the bull run and after they torture
them to death in front of a crowd. I think that it is irony because for hundreds of years this event has
happened and now in this picture the bulls hoofs are standing on bodies and it is uninjured while
hundreds of people die around it.

2. Analyse the power of the symbols used by Picasso. Research the meanings for each symbol? (Hint:
Look for the following - broken dagger, electric bulb, flower, bull, horse.) - (Structural Frame)
1. Electric bulb: The electric bulb symbolises an evil eye or the single light in a torchers cell
2. Broken dagger: Broken hope defeat. If you look closely you will see that the tongues of the
bull horse and the screaming woman are all the ends of broken daggers
3. Flower: the flower is growing over the dagger that symbolises defeat and therefore both the
objects the flower growing over the gagger mean growth and healing over defeat
4. Bull: the bull symbolises irony Spain the war and bullfighting and the culture of Spain
5. Horse: The horse is the main focus of the painting and because is a big part of the culture of
Spain and it has a spear penetrating its side and a gaping wound in its flank. This symbolises
the pain that Spain was going through at the time and how the war affected the culture of
Spain in a bad way
3. Why do you think Picasso chose to use mainly black, white and shades of grey (some tinged with
blue, green and brown)? (Structural Frame)
I think that Picasso uses dark and some light to firstly distinguish the figures from the background
and secondly to give a sad impression to express pain chaos and loss

4. Is this painting a universal symbol of violence rather than a historical record of one day during a
war in Spain? How does it question authority and morality in our contemporary world? (Structural
Frame)
I think that yes it is a universal symbol of violence and sadness but also one of hope because of the
bird and the clover witch in the bible is when Noah finds hope because the bird finds land and also
because of the crack in the wall and light pouring in witch symbolises freedom and an escape

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