Guernica, Pablo Picasso (Reina Sofia Museum)

Guernica is a painting by Pablo Picasso, depicting the Nazi bombing of Guernica, Spain, on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.

For over three hours, twentyfive of Germany's best-equipped bombers, accompanied by at least twenty more Messerschmitt and Fiat Fighters (Italy), dumped one hundred thousand pounds of high-explosive and incendiary bombs on the village, slowly and systematically pounding it to rubble.  The attack killed between 250 and 1,600 people (the number of casualties is not clear), and many more were injured.

The Spanish Republican government commissioned Pablo Picasso to paint a large mural for the Spanish display at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris.  The Guernica bombing inspired Picasso and within 15 days of the attack he began painting the mural.

On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour.  This tour brought the Spanish Civil War to the world's attention.  The mural came back to Spain after Franco´s death according with Picasso´s last will.  After being displayed in el Casón del Buen Retiro for some years the painting was finally moved to Reina Sofia Museum.