Pablo Picasso was 55 years old when he painted Guernica. He created this iconic painting in 1937, during a tumultuous period in Spanish history. The painting was a response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, at the request of Spanish Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War.
Guernica is one of Picasso’s most famous works and is widely regarded as one of the most powerful anti-war paintings in history. The painting is a large mural, measuring 3.49 meters (11 ft 5 in) tall and 7.76 meters (25 ft 6 in) wide, and it is painted in a monochromatic palette of black, white, and gray, which adds to its dramatic impact.
Picasso’s age and experience at the time allowed him to bring a profound depth of emotion and political commentary to the work. The painting is not only a masterpiece of modern art but also a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the suffering it inflicts on innocent people.