The Spanish Civil War inspired some of the most provocative art of the 20th century; passionate, angry and surreal. Opening with the unveiling of Pablo Picasso’s monumental painting “Guernica” in 1937, this fully illustrated talk introduces the big political themes of the conflict and the work that artists, many from Britain, were driven to create in response.

This ambitious talk was presented initially at 6 London libraries as part of the Cityread 2018 programme of events inspired by Jessie Burton’s novel, “The Muse”. The story centres on the attribution of a painting created in Andalusia on the eve of the Spanish Civil War so I thought I would attempt to explain the war itself and explore some of the art it inspired.

“Excellent” Richmond Libraries

FURTHER READING:

THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR by Paul Preston

THE BATTLE FOR SPAIN by Antony Beevor

HOMAGE TO CATALONIA by George Orwell

UNLIKELY WARRIORS by Richard Baxell

PICASSO: HIS LIFE AND WORK by Roland Penrose

PICASSO AND TRUTH by T.J. Clark

PICASSO’S WAR by Russell Martin