The grief-stricken mother is still there, holding her dead child for 84 years, as well as the humiliated fallen soldiers and the silently screaming horse.
However, Guernica, who is now heading to the Basque Country Museum, is not Pablo Picasso’s anti-fascist anger monochromatic howls, but rather annoyed to help bring the original work to Painful market town It inspired its creation under the wave of German and Italian bombers-and condemned the horrors of the subsequent Franco dictatorship.
Basque artist Augustine Ibarola In 1977, he painted Guernica Gernikara as part of an event that gave Picasso’s masterpiece—perhaps the most famous painting of the 20th century—to Guernica after its birth. ). Long-term exile In the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
However, when it finally took the Iberia 747 home in 1981, Guernica finally arrived in Madrid, where it Retained till now.
Until last week, Ibarrola’s work has experienced a less public and wandering fate, when it was taken away from an artist’s studio in the Basque Country and Madrid’s annual international contemporary art fair (Arco).
The Spanish media has extensively reported the “Forgotten Guernica” and the reproduction of its 10 canvas panels, which are now being re-evaluated and celebrated in their own right.
Fine Arts Museum of Bilbao Thanks to donations from the Basque government, the Provincial Council of Biscaia, and the Bilbao City Hall, the painting was last exhibited 40 years ago and it was purchased for 300,000 euros (£260,000). Picture.
The museum said in a statement: “This new collection restores to the public one of the most important works in the Basque 20th century art heritage.” “This painting is not only related to the museum’s own history, it will also be greatly enriched. The presence of Agustín Ibarrola in the collection.”
The museum points out that Guernica Gernikara is more than just a tribute, adding: “In its panels, you can see some of the most iconic symbolic patterns in Picasso’s works. There are also elements from Ibarola’s own creative world, such as his condemnation of the oppressive atmosphere [Franco] The dictatorship and his call for freedom. “
This oppression is most evident in the dark and menacing police squeezed into the last few paintings of this painting, partially obscuring the word Guernica.
The gallery owner José Dramano stumbled upon the picture of the painting and eventually managed to bring it to Alco. He said that Guernica Guernicara told about the end of the dictatorship and the Spanish direction after Franco’s death. The story of democratic transition.It also reflects Ibarola’s imprisonment and torture Suffering under the regime.
“Printing Guernica in the 70s and 80s was a real statement of intent,” He told the online newspaper Público“[Ibarrola’s] The explanation 40 years later is actually an explanation of the transition. It is the image of social struggle, prison and police: it interprets the end of dictatorship.do not forget [Ibarrola] Stayed in prison for five years. “
Dramano added that although the painting may be sold for more than 300,000 euros, the family of Ibarola, who is now almost 91 years old, is happy to see it reopened in the Museum of Bilbao after so many years. .
“Going back to Bilbao ended this circle,” he said. “It was exhibited in a space called the Gray Room in 1977. This is very important for families because this will be their final destination.”
