Iseult Gillespie: Why is this painting so shocking?

Why is this painting so shocking?

In 1937, in one of the worst civilian casualties of the Spanish Civil War, Fascist forces bombed the village of Guernica in Northern Spain. For Pablo Picasso, the tragedy sparked a frenzied period of work in which he produced a massive anti-war mural, titled "Guernica." How can we make sense of this overwhelming image, and what makes it a masterpiece of anti-war art? Iseult Gillespie investigates. [Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Adrian Dannatt, music by Marcos Tawil].

Picasso’s monumental painting, inspired by the 1937 bombing of Guernica, channels the horrors of civilian tragedy into a searing anti-war protest. Its Cubist style fragments the violence, offering impossible perspectives and a sense of relentless chaos. Life-sized figures, trapped in agony and confusion, evoke deep claustrophobia and emotional impact. Even without decoding every symbol, the work confronts viewers with the true cost of violence and remains a global icon for peace.