Picasso in War and in Peace, at Gagosian Gallery

‘Picasso, what did you do during the war” is always a good question. He despaired of Spain, under Franco starting in early 1939. Guernica, his brutally operatic war painting, was a sensation. Picasso supported aspects of the Spanish Republic, mostly artist relief, declared his Communist allegiance in 1937, and was appointed, without soliciting it, director of the Prado in 1936. It would have been a no-show job. Picasso made a visit to Spain in 1934 but never returned, determined to boycott Franco’s reign.

Still, as Spain’s most famous artist since Goya, the mostly Communist regime there wanted him identified with the cause. No less than Dolores Ibárruri, she of “I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees,” connived to get Picasso to return as the war raged, getting her instructions from Moscow.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

‘Picasso, what did you do during the war” is always a good question. He despaired of Spain, under Franco starting in early 1939. Guernica, his brutally operatic war painting, was a sensation. Picasso supported aspects of the Spanish Republic, mostly artist relief, declared his Communist allegiance in 1937, and was appointed, without soliciting it, director of the Prado in 1936. It would have been a no-show job. Picasso made a visit to Spain in 1934 but never returned, determined to boycott Franco’s reign.

Still, as Spain’s most famous artist since Goya, the mostly Communist regime there wanted him identified with the cause. No less than Dolores Ibárruri, she of “I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees,” connived to get Picasso to return as the war raged, getting her instructions from Moscow.