How often do you come to see something in a new light?
I read about a theory regarding a very prominent piece of art earlier this week that has me doing just that. The theory came from an article published in Nómadas: Revista Crítica de Cincias Socialies y Jurídicas written by Pablo Huergo Macón. In it, Macón proposes that Picasso's Guernica could be viewed as a modern day nativity scene, one that he claims is a "manger all blown up." This radical thought has left me pondering about the paintings symbolism all week.
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Guernica by Pablo Picasso 1937, oil on canvas, 137.4 in × 305.5 in Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid |
Guernica, shown above, was a commissioned mural to represent Spain during the World's Fair held in Paris in 1937. Picasso created an emotional, turbulent and disturbing scene detailing the horrific bombing of the town Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. This painting, though depicting disturbing subject matter, has become an iconic manifestation of the horrors of war and a call for world peace.
It seems a bit far-fetched to liken a turbulent and chaotic war scene with the peace and serenity usually associated with nativity scenes. However, there do seem to be all the necessary elements: a Madonna and child on the far left, (although, since the child is dead, I feel it more closely resembles the Pieta); the warrior with the sword can be interpreted as Joseph; the lightbulb that illuminates the scene represents the Star of Bethlehem; the women shown on the right side of the work become shepherds who have a candle-holding angel appear unto them; and the bull and horse are the stable animals.
I have never thought of Guernica as a nativity scene before. For a small moment, I was thinking about it in a different light. However, I don't think I will be making room for the painting in my Christmas decor anytime soon. For me, it will forever be a reminder of the atrocities of war and the need for world peace.
