Comments on: Guernica and the barbarism of twentieth century Europe. http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Wed, 23 May 2012 13:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Stephen http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe/#comment-2800 Stephen Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:08:04 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe./#comment-2800 I couldn't begin to do justice to the content of Picasso's painting, but would suggest you read Robert Hughes (the shock of the new) here: <a href="http://sbcb.bioch.ox.ac.uk/graham/guernika_comm.txt" rel="nofollow">http://sbcb.bioch.ox.ac.uk/graham/guernika_comm.t...</a> The power of the painting though is evidenced by the way we retain a strong memory of the dark monochrome image, recalled each time we here the word 'Guernica'. If the opportunity presents itself you should see the original; the sheer scale of the work increases it's impact. There is another artistic war memorial, not that far from your constituency, Stanley Spencer's Burghclere chapel. To this viewer, it is one of the greatest artistic achievements of the 20th century, you should visit. Great blog, very stimulating. Reply: Yes, the Spencer is powerful. My own idea of a great painting is the Fighting Temeraire. The image of the mighty ship which had played such a part at Trafalgar being towed to her last berth into the sunset by a steam tug is so evocative. There is the end of the end of the age of sail and the ships of the line that had defeated the tyranny of Napoleon; there is the image of the sunset reinforcing the image of the decaying ship. with the future in the foreground. That is great art recalling great events and changes. I couldn't begin to do justice to the content of Picasso's painting, but would suggest you read Robert Hughes (the shock of the new) here: http://sbcb.bioch.ox.ac.uk/graham/guernika_comm.t…

The power of the painting though is evidenced by the way we retain a strong memory of the dark monochrome image, recalled each time we here the word 'Guernica'. If the opportunity presents itself you should see the original; the sheer scale of the work increases it's impact.

There is another artistic war memorial, not that far from your constituency, Stanley Spencer's Burghclere chapel. To this viewer, it is one of the greatest artistic achievements of the 20th century, you should visit.

Great blog, very stimulating.

Reply: Yes, the Spencer is powerful. My own idea of a great painting is the Fighting Temeraire. The image of the mighty ship which had played such a part at Trafalgar being towed to her last berth into the sunset by a steam tug is so evocative. There is the end of the end of the age of sail and the ships of the line that had defeated the tyranny of Napoleon; there is the image of the sunset reinforcing the image of the decaying ship. with the future in the foreground. That is great art recalling great events and changes.

]]> By: mikestallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe/#comment-2799 mikestallard Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:59:06 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe./#comment-2799 John, you have to paint to understand. Sometimes the paint just flows onto the board. It is a controlled anger which is really satisfying too. All your intellect, feelings, know how, skill pour out together. There is no way to describe it. The down side, of course, is that nobody else understands what you are up to! To them it is just a mess! But if you are any good, the fairest and most skilled critic is - yourself. You know it is "going well". Believe me, once he had got rid of the deadly influence of his Art School dad, Picasso really was a good drawer and painter and he worked at it too. Some people (Tracey Emin? The pre Raphaelites?) just couldn't paint at all. Picasso just sat in cafes drawing what he saw. This sounds about as easy as pie. Believe me, it is just as difficult (I guess) as making a good speech in parliament. As to the bombing: Butcher Harris looked up during the blitz and said "They have sown the wind". John, you have to paint to understand. Sometimes the paint just flows onto the board. It is a controlled anger which is really satisfying too. All your intellect, feelings, know how, skill pour out together. There is no way to describe it.
The down side, of course, is that nobody else understands what you are up to! To them it is just a mess!
But if you are any good, the fairest and most skilled critic is – yourself. You know it is "going well".
Believe me, once he had got rid of the deadly influence of his Art School dad, Picasso really was a good drawer and painter and he worked at it too. Some people (Tracey Emin? The pre Raphaelites?) just couldn't paint at all. Picasso just sat in cafes drawing what he saw.
This sounds about as easy as pie. Believe me, it is just as difficult (I guess) as making a good speech in parliament.

As to the bombing: Butcher Harris looked up during the blitz and said "They have sown the wind".

]]> By: Stuart Fairney http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe/#comment-2798 Stuart Fairney Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:37:01 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe./#comment-2798 In the strict sense you are right, I too struggle to see the merit in the painting on it's own. But it is rather like Anne Frank; as a diarist she was understandably limited, but its the emotional resonance she generates from the association with the events of the time that give the work significance. Thus it is with the painting and to no small extent, the 'celebrity' artist. In the strict sense you are right, I too struggle to see the merit in the painting on it's own. But it is rather like Anne Frank; as a diarist she was understandably limited, but its the emotional resonance she generates from the association with the events of the time that give the work significance. Thus it is with the painting and to no small extent, the 'celebrity' artist.

]]> By: Rose http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe/#comment-2797 Rose Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:57:36 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/26/guernica-and-the-barbarism-of-twentieth-century-europe./#comment-2797 I agree. I cannot see the merit in the picture, though many artists I know think otherwise. If Picasso had been on the other side, and shown, say, the thousands of priests being butchered, would people today laud that as a masterpiece, or would it have been suppressed? This cruel and complicated war is all too often presented in fashionably simplified terms for a cinema-educated generation. I agree. I cannot see the merit in the picture, though many artists I know think otherwise. If Picasso had been on the other side, and shown, say, the thousands of priests being butchered, would people today laud that as a masterpiece, or would it have been suppressed? This cruel and complicated war is all too often presented in fashionably simplified terms for a cinema-educated generation.

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