This political masterpiece is Picasso's reaction to the massacre of civilians committed by the US and South Korean military forces in the period of October to December, 1950. About 35,000 people were killed in the vicinity of Sinchon those days.
Referring to Francisco Goya's painting "The Third of May 1808" (1814) which depicts the shooting of Spanish civilians by Napoleon soldiers, Picasso worked in a manner typical of his late art period. He focuses the viewer's attention on certain points: what the soldiers with masked faces are bearing in their hands is not rifles, but something abstract, defining aggression in general; one of them has a sword in his hand that symbolizes the historicity of war; all the people to be shot are women (some of them pregnant) and children, and those preparing to die are facing the viewer directly.
24 May byats wurnt wrote: 'I think, when dealing with an abstract piece, one must take an approach similar to reading.
On the right, I can see buildings, a staple of modern life.
Warm colours, may indicate heat?
There's a curtain on the left harlequin.
Now we just have to make sense of it.'
15 May Wong Tsz Hang wrote: 'The drawings are confusing, there are many colours mixed together and don't know what it is. And it looks unusual.'
23 April Santiago from San Diego wrote: 'Did Picasso ever draw some daises white and yellow on a window sill?'
30 March Cassandra from Scandinavia wrote: 'This in intruiguing, I am researching this painting for a school project.'
25 March Cosma from Germany wrote: ':) Look at this great picture and smile. GO PAINTIG NOT WAR'
24 February Vic from Melbourne wrote: 'Can't believe Picasso made a sculpture of Ye himself'
12 February Alan from Rochester wrote: 'Anybody know in what museum or collection HEAD OF A WOMAN WITH BLUE HAT RED RIBBON
(Tête de femme au chapeau bleu a ruban rouge), 1939 is located?'
10 February Micheal Scott from Rochester wrote: 'This says a lot about our society.'
24 January Per Hansen from Hawley, PA wrote: 'French to English translation is incorrect for painting labeled "Man leans hands across has table", 1916.
Correct translation: Man with hands crossed leaning on a table'
06 December Hugh Janis from Ur mother's wrote: 'yeah I mean this is cool and all but when I was 8 years old I was rounding up all the neighborhood stray cats and I used to make them fight for food. I was helping those cats more than this painting helps me so if you think about it, this painting really is not that impressive from a grand perspective'
17 November Luke from UK wrote: 'I know nothing about art, but that horse is insanely good ! The legs are perfect, from an 8 year old boy from memory... Insane'
07 August May de la Vega from Miami wrote: 'My inspiration was the great Master P. Picasso, I love his art, and his style helped me to get my own style.'
