TheAgitator.com
Guernica, Veiled
Monday, February 3rd, 2003
Picasso’s brutal depiction of the agony of war is being censored by the U.N. Seems that a reproduction of the work that once hung in a press area of the U.N. building has been covered up in advance of U.S. diplomats’ plans to make the case for war in the room later this week.
We can’t have an artist’s portrayal of war’s atrocities hanging in the background just as our leaders are building alliances, now can we?
If we stopped the current armed intervention in Iraq of the “no-fly” zones, then Saddam would start slaughtering the Kurds, then Guernica would be appropriate and all the Susan Sarandon’s of the world can feel better that we are no longer in Iraq.
“It is an appropriate background for the cameras.”
Wasn’t this the same rationale for the Justice Dept’s curtain purchase last year?
Funny that no one seemed to feel this was necessary over the past decade or few that such press conferences have been happening.
Is there some reason these people can not find another place to do TV press conferences?
And just why is it that we viewers must be presented with a blue background everytime anyway?
Picasso is still my favorite. Besides, what does the UN know about free speach?
The funny thing is, if I hadn’t been told that the painting depicted the agony of war, I wouldn’t have known it by glancing at it.
It clearly shows agony of some sort, but that’s about all I can see. For all I know, he could be depicting the horrors of food poisoning, which, of course, can be pretty horrible.
Picasso had some great works, but they weren’t always very easy to determine the subject on your own. Interpretation is quite a bit easier when someone guides you to a conclusion.
Believe me, most people, even if they could clearly see the painting in the background, would have no idea what it depicts.
Roger, you are right. I always thought it was a depiction of Hades.
Well, I see a cow/bull in the background so I think it’s about the horrors of mad cow disease.
I thought it was an orgy at Hedonism II.
What you see is what you get. I’m sure Picasso would have been thrilled to know that his painting offended somone. After all isn’t that the intent?
I see the Oregon Trail, with articial light like those annoying florecents in school.
The title suggests the meaning in this case. Guernica (the city) was fire bombed by the fascists in the Spanish Civil War. I think it would be the perfect back drop for making the case for taking out Saddam. This could just as easily be a depiction of the gassing of the Kurds in ‘88. It could also be a prophetic vision of what is to come in this country if we don’t confront those who would use weapons of mass destruction on us.
Well, Now that I know what it’s supposed to be I still can’t see it.
Wait…Wait a minute…
Nope. I still don’t see it.
Picasso? Are you sure this isn’t one of those Magic Eye posters of a schooner?