What inspired Pablo Picasso to paint Weeping woman? Please give some historical context. Thanks
http://www.inminds.com/weeping-woman-picasso-1937.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weeping_Woman
Pablo Picasso's painting "Weeping Woman" was completed in 1937 and is considered one of the most iconic and powerful representations of the anguish and suffering brought about by war. To understand what inspired Picasso to create this painting, we need to delve into the historical context of that period.
During the late 1930s, Spain was embroiled in a devastating civil war between the Republican government and the Nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco. Picasso, being a Spanish artist himself, was deeply affected by the conflict and its impact on the people, particularly innocent civilians.
One key event that influenced Picasso in creating "Weeping Woman" was the bombing of the town of Guernica on April 26, 1937. Guernica, a symbol of the Spanish Republic and its resistance against the Nationalist forces, was brutally bombed by German and Italian warplanes supporting Franco's regime. The attack resulted in widespread destruction, with many innocent civilians losing their lives.
Picasso, who was in Paris at the time, was deeply moved by the horrifying images and news reports of the Guernica bombing. He felt compelled to respond to the tragedy and express his outrage through his art. The result was his monumental painting "Guernica," which depicted the horrors of war and the suffering of innocent civilians. It featured anguished figures, dismembered bodies, and animals in agony, conveying the horrors of war on a massive scale.
Following the completion of "Guernica," Picasso continued to explore the themes of war and suffering in subsequent works. "Weeping Woman" is believed to be a continuation and further exploration of these themes. The painting portrays a woman with a grief-stricken expression, tears streaming down her face, and hands clenched in anguish. Picasso emphasized her anguish by distorting her features and using bold, contrasting colors.
By presenting a weeping woman as a symbolic figure, Picasso sought to convey the universal experience of sorrow and the devastating effects of war on innocent individuals, particularly women who often suffered the most during conflicts.
In summary, historical events such as the Guernica bombing during the Spanish Civil War and Picasso's personal connection to his native country of Spain are considered to have inspired him to create "Weeping Woman." Through this painting, he aimed to capture the profound emotions and anguish experienced by individuals affected by war and to raise awareness about the human cost of conflict.