In Dove (Picasso), how is the Background discussed?
Until the Spanish Civil War, Picasso had been predominantly apolitical. His art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler stated that he had been the "most apolitical man" he had ever known. However, the Spanish Civil War had a profound effect on Picasso's outlook, causing him to become more concerned with politics, which eventually led to his painting of Guernica in 1937. After painting this masterpiece, Picasso became a symbol of anti-fascism. By the end of World War II, Picasso had joined the Communist Party, motivated by humanitarian concerns. For Picasso, Communism offered a different path that rejected the fascism of the Second World War and the Spanish Civil War. However, this affiliation caused a certain amount of controversy. Between 1948 and 1951, he attended several World Peace Congresses. When Picasso was asked to speak at the 1950 Peace Congress in Sheffield, he said, "I stand for life against death; I stand for peace against war."
Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler apolitical Spanish Civil War Guernica Communism World War II anti-fascism