Picasso's Guernica and Fernand Leger's Contrast of Forms - Coursework Example

I. Picasso Picasso created his Guernica (1937) as a response to a horrible disaster. The fascist regime of Franco let the Nazi Germans to bomb a town (“Picasso, Guernica, 1937”). Many people were killed and the town was damaged badly. The painting was to be displayed at an international exhibition where people would be able to see the horrors of war. The artwork is an example of Cubist painting. It is very symbolic. Thus, the figures on the right and on the left show despair of victims of the bombing: a mother mourning for her dead child and a woman running from her burning house.

The electric bulb at the top can be a symbol of the bombing and explosions. The death came from the sky and Spanish people became innocent victims of the horrible regime. The mix of figures, shadows and light creates the atmosphere of chaos and despair. The painting is aimed at showing the entire world sufferings of Spanish people who became victims of fascism. II. Fernand Léger Fernand Léger created his Contrast of Forms in 1913 (“1913 / “Contrast of Forms” by Fernand Léger”). The artwork pertains to Cubist painting.

It is full of symbolism and it appeals to people’s hearts. Various shapes are depicted. In the majority of cases, these are cylindrical shapes. The painting is full of contrasting colors: blue and yellow, red and green. The shapes and the colors create the atmosphere of chaos. The painter tried to reveal the chaos of the twentieth century where technology was evolving at a very rapid pace. People were exposed to chaotic discoveries and had to handle them. The contrast of colors appeals to the viewer who is bound to glance at the world of his/her own dreams.

The kaleidoscope of colors and shapes creates the atmosphere of chaos but, when a person takes his/her time to gaze at it, a specific orderly picture may appear. The artist wanted to share his emotions concerning the new era and he also wanted other people to listen to themselves while looking into the magic kaleidoscope. Works Cited 1913 / “Contrast of Forms” by Fernand Léger. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. . Picasso, Guernica, 1937. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. .