Art as Argument

This picture uses only black, blue, and blue-gray hues. It does not have a bright mood, but instead a sad, depressing mood.  Also, there are many faces oh humans and animals, such as bulls and cows. These images all seem to be in a distressed state, and add to the depressing mood of the overall picture. The images seem to be screaming for help, without any help coming to them.  The people are in desperation because this picture is about the Nazi bombing of Guernica, Spain.  There is a dismembered soldier and shocked civilians.  These people convey the pain and suffering that war can bring to a nation.

In this picture, the colors black, brown, gold, and red are included. The only white color is the man’s shirt. There seems to be a division in the individual’s in the picture. One man is kneeling with his hand up, as three men aim their weapons towards him. This creates a mood of anxiety and fear.  This mood is added to by the people already lying on the ground in pools of blood.  The individual’s being killed in this picture makes the person looking want to beg for their mercy. This picture was supposed to show the Spanish resistance to Napoleon in 1808.  The hardship of war is displayed in this picture.

The picture shown is a firing squad firing at a single man, as onlookers watch and cover their ears.  These onlookers cannot do anything to help the man, without risking their own lives.  The mood of this picture is a combination of pain and torture.  Both the onlookers and the man being shot are in a situation that is very difficult.  Furthermore, there is a man behind the firing squad reloading his gun. It seems that this killing does not faze him.  The colors in this picture are green, gray, brown, blue, red, and yellow. These colors are slightly brighter but do not make up for the depressing situation shown. The picture also takes place during the day which is different from the other pictures.Ar The picture shows the execution of the Emperor. The art gets very political because an Emperor is being executed.  This shows controversy.