Pablo Picasso's War Period (1937-1945) is a poignant chapter in the artist's life, deeply affected by the global conflict of World War II. During these tumultuous years, the Nazi occupation of France labeled Picasso's art as "degenerate." Despite the challenges and restrictions, Picasso remained in Paris, refusing to exhibit his art under the oppressive regime. His response to the war was introspective, focusing on dark, morbid still lifes and portraits rather than explicit battle scenes. Picasso stated, "I have not painted the war... But I have no doubt that the war is in these paintings I have done" (DW).
Throughout the war, Picasso's Spanish citizenship shielded him from the fate that befell many of his contemporaries. Although his application for French citizenship was rejected due to his supposed communist tendencies, his art found a welcoming audience across the Atlantic, particularly in New York, where the Museum of Modern Art hosted a retrospective in 1939-40, showcasing major works including "Guernica," a powerful testament to the tragedies of the Spanish Civil War (DW).
Picasso's political engagement intensified before the Second World War. He was vocal in his opposition to Francisco Franco's dictatorship in Spain, contributing proceeds from his work to refugee aid and republican causes. His political leanings were evident, yet during WWII, his artworks, such as a dove created in 1942, conveyed a subtler, more symbolic opposition to the horrors of war (DW).
The artist's adherence to dating his work was a method of embedding the context of creation within the piece itself, believing that understanding the circumstances of a work's creation was crucial to its interpretation. Skull motifs, symbolizing the fragility of life, recur in Picasso's work during this period, reflecting the pervasive sense of mortality (DW).
Following the liberation of Paris in 1944, Picasso was hailed as a survivor and joined the Communist Party, although he faced criticism for not being politically vocal enough through his art during the war. Picasso defended his position, asserting that an artist is inherently a political being, reflecting the world's tumults in their work (DW).
After the war, Picasso's style evolved as he traveled to the South of France, reinterpreting old masters' works and remaining politically active. His peace dove became an enduring symbol of hope and reconciliation in the post-war era (DW).
The "Picasso and the War Years: 1937-1945" exhibition delves deep into how the war impacted Picasso's art and life, showcasing how one of the 20th century's most significant artists navigated through one of history's darkest periods (DW) (Internet Archive).