Running head: SYMBOLISM IN PICASSO’S GUERNICA 1

Symbolism in Picasso’s Guernica

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Symbolism in Picasso’s Guernica

One of his most well-known paintings, Pablo Picasso’s Guernica is full of fascinating

anti-war symbolism. For instance, the distraught woman holding her dead baby on the far left of

the painting is symbolic of early Christian imagery of Mary and Jesus. Picasso symbolizes the

same imagery depicted in earlier works by Michelangelo and other renowned artist. Essentially,

this is his rendition of the pieta, which is an early Christian theme depicting an anguished Mary,

mother of Jesus, holding the Christ’s corpse after people took it down from the cross. The

Guernica secularizes Christian imagery to liken the anguish of Guernica’s mothers to Mary’s,

both of whom suffered loss. The dismembered soldier holds a broken sword in one hand and

flowers in the other, which symbolize futility in battle and hope amidst the turmoil (Proweller,

1971). Picasso’s depiction of the soldier’s sword as broken shows that while the people of

Guernica were willing to fight, the attack had rendered them incapable and thus hopeless.

Furthermore, the mutilated soldier laying on the ground symbolizes the toll that the attack has

had on human life in the twon.

Furthermore, the bulb in an eye combination has multiple symbolisms, including the all-

seeing eye of God watching the wanton destruction that modern technology has caused. Nazi

Germany and Fascist Italy utilized then contemporary and destructive weaponry, that Picasso

symbolically insinuates could draw the wrath of God. Also, the Spanish words bulb and bomb

are almost similar, and the image symbolizes both an illuminating light and an explosion

radiating outwards. Guernica’s black and white color scheme not only pays homage to the

popular newspaper medium, but also symbolized the medium through which Picasso learnt of the

heinous acts of the attackers (Corbin, 1999). Moreover, the utilization of the color scheme also

symbolizes that the painting bears witness of the events, just as a newspaper would. The
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horrified horse in the painting symbolizes the terrified populace of Guernica, who despite the

horror, were keeping their heads up and were willing to keep up the struggle for their lives.

Picasso asserted that the horse also symbolized loss and sorrow, which made him insert it as the

centerpiece of the painting.

Additionally, the bull bearing down on the distraught woman symbolizes the fascism that

was bearing down on the people. Fundamentally, the bull represents the brutality and force that

the fascist state had inflicted on the populace of Guernica, which trampled ruthlessly over their

lives. Also, Picasso had previously portrayed himself as a Minotaur, which are half-bull/half-

man, and thus it could symbolize his perception towards the whole event. Picasso depicts the

distraught dove in the shade rather than the light to symbolize the waning prospects of peace

within the town due to the invasion. The small liver of light that the darkness is engulfing

symbolizes that while Guernica was once peaceful, the conflict was overshadowing it (Proweller,

1971). Picasso includes three women on the right side of the picture, all of whom are seemingly

unharmed but nonetheless distressed. Essentially, he symbolizes the women in his life who

would most likely suffer as a result of a subsequent attack or protracted war. The women could

refer to either his female family members or his wife and the mistresses he was allegedly during

those times. A woman who is next to a crescent star holds a lamp, which symbolizes Russia, who

could come and combat the darkness of Nazi-inflicted war in Guernica.

Analysts also assert that Picasso depicts a human skull within the horse’s teeth and

nostrils, which signify the death and loss brought about by the war. The awkward shapes of some

of the body parts that Picasso portrays are not accidental, but rather symbolic. For instance, the

tails of both the wide-eyed bull and the horse look like rising smoke, which would depict the

smoldering wreckage of the town of Guernica caused by war (Corbin, 1999). Fundamentally, it
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signifies that the impact of the attack is relatively fresh and that the plumes of smoke show a city

that is still smoldering. Also, the tongues of the distressed woman, horse, and bull look like

daggers which symbolize the pain that they are either inflicting or experiencing in the ongoing

war.

Conclusion

Evidently, Picasso’s Guernica includes many instances of deep and straightforward

symbolism that are germane to the war. Some of the symbolism is evident from the expression of

some of the main components of the painting. Furthermore, the painting utilizes animals, such as

doves, bulls, and horses, to signify different aspects, including peace and fascism. Undoubtedly,

the main symbolism that the painting consistently depicts is that of the suffering caused by the

attack on Guernica. The symbolism entails the color schemes, the characters’ expressions, their

body parts, and the imagery, among others.

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References

Corbin, J. (1999). Images of war: Picasso's Guernica. Visual Anthropology, 13(1), 1-21.

Proweller, W. (1971). Picasso's “Guernica”: A Study in Visual Metaphor. Art Journal, 30(3),

240-248.