Picasso, Pablo (1881-1973)
Femme en pleurs (Weeping woman)
1937
Oil on canvas, 60.8 × 50 cm
Tate Britain, London
Weeping Woman is based on an image of a woman holding her dead child. It is taken from Picasso’s anti-war mural, Guernica. Picasso painted both works during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). It was in response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica. The attack was carried out in April 1937 by Nazi Germany’s air force, in support of Spain’s Nationalist forces. Hundreds of people were killed. The figure of the Weeping Woman is based on artist and photographer Dora Maar. Maar photographed Picasso‘s making of Guernica. (Tate)
Compare:
Picasso, Pablo (1881-1973)
Femme qui pleure
1937
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
See also:
• Maar, Dora (1907-1997)