He continues his work even though WW I is happening all around him and this only fuels his passion to paint. Over this period, he creates well over 1500 works and refines his style of Cubism with more sedentary works such as stills and portraits. What kind of man works under these conditions and doesn't deserve the right to be called hero?
By 1924, Pablo is working with two styles, "biomorphism" and surrealism'.7 He contributes to his previous "blue period" as well. If one is a careful observer, he or she may notice that Picasso is on the cutting edge of artistic movements through the 1900's. This fact bolsters his commencement of artistic hero of the century.
What about his actual contributions to Spain? Surely, an artist can't have much to say concerning political issues and such, can he? Actually, the fine arts have been a means to express political issues in the world throughout history. The great surrealist Marc Chagall is an excellent example of this expression. For example, in 1938 Chagall painted White Crucifixion. This was a cry of mans' inhumanity to man. With the Spanish Civil War and thousands of being moved to concentration camps by the Nazis, this work screams for help from someone or something and Picasso did the same thing with Guernica.8
Design Principles and Problems tells us that Guernica is dated in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. Page 24 states as quoted,
“Viewing Picasso's Guernica, people tend to walk toward it until it fills their vision and then to stop. It will not let them come any closer, but at this point, it is all encompassing, deeply affecting viewers with a sense of horror at the inhumanity of war.”9
Pablo Picasso was not only a pioneer in painting; he stood against the atrocities of war. He watched his own people engage in civil war and kill each other and he screams in disgust at their actions with this painting. Look at it. Even the terror in the faces of innocent animals creates revulsion in the heart of humanity. I have not found a greater work that portrays the sickness and disease of war.
The woman and child on the left hand side of the painting is the most disturbing. In an age of mass media, these people are almost never portrayed in war. The innocents are left without a voice throughout history but Picasso gives them one in Guernica. The creative genius is enough to make Pablo Picasso a hero of our time. However, it's messages like this one that earn him the title and respect of hero.
“When I paint, my object is to show what I have found and not what I am looking for.” (p. 45)10
On April 8th, 1973, Pablo Picasso dies of a heart attack as a result of pulmonary edema. The online Picasso Project states the following,
“The total output of Picasso's artistic career has been given different estimates: "50,000 works of art, including 1,885 paintings; 1,228 sculptures; 2,880 ceramics; 18,095 engravings; 6,112 lithographs; and approximately 12,000 drawings, as well as numerous linocuts, tapestries, and rugs, not to mention his letters, poetry and plays"” (cf. Selfridge 1994, 102).11
At this very moment, Picassos' work is showing in 38 galleries from Asia to Europe and from Europe to the United States. I believe that I can safely say that no artist in the world is showing in 38 galleries across the world including the likes of Monet, Degas or Dali. Staying power is important in the art world but when it comes to the duration of staying power, Picasso wins hands down.
