The artwork titled “Horse Head. Sketch for ‘Guernica'” is a creation by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, completed in 1937. This piece is categorically considered a sketch and study, contributing to the broader context of the art movement known as Expressionism. The artwork serves as a preparatory work for Picasso’s magnum opus, “Guernica,” which reflects on and responds to the atrocities of war.
The artwork in question portrays, in monochromatic shades, the head of a horse in a state of distress. The horse’s mouth is open wide in what could be perceived as a silent scream or neigh, a powerful evocation of agony and despair. Through expressive brushwork and dramatic contrast between light and shadow, Picasso conveys intense emotion and a sense of movement. The exaggerated features, such as the flared nostrils and the wide, fearful eyes, are characteristic of Picasso’s unique approach in expressing emotional turmoil and chaos, which resonate with the Expressionist desire to evoke subjective emotions rather than objective reality.
The background is stark and dark, providing a strong contrast that accentuates the anguish of the horse’s visage. This focus on the suffering of the horse may echo the themes of pain, brutality, and the senseless suffering of innocent beings caught in the turmoil of war. As a study for “Guernica,” the artwork is a significant historical artifact that offers insight into Picasso’s creative process and the development of one of the most poignant anti-war paintings of the 20th century.
