This Thursday, I had the privilege of visiting La Reina Sofía with my class. It is Spain's national museum, containing 20th century and contemporary art. We traveled into the Lavapiés neighborhood - a vibrant, multi-cultural locale in Madrid. The museum was bustling with people, all engrossed in the impressive art all over. The first room we entered held an extensive collection of propaganda posters from the Spanish Civil War. I was enthralled by the powerful imagery and wording in each image that worked to communicate the intense political landscape at the time. This was very interesting because earlier in the day, a great amount of our class session was dedicated to understanding the political scene between the Nationalists and Republicans during the time.
We then moved further into the museum to view Pablo Picasso's, Guernica. Here, we dissected the meaning behind the painting. I learned that it was a protest piece against the Spanish Civil War. It was created after the aerial bombing in Guernica which brought much devastation to the region and country. The painting's style, symbolism, and color each contributed to evoke feelings of loss, struggle, and fear - emotions that Picasso, and other Republican allies at the time, undoubtedly felt.
I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to study abroad in such a vibrant, historical, and cultural city. Being able to visit places like La Reina Sofía is a privilege and a once in a lifetime experience that has helped me to better understand Spanish history. The Peter Heller Study Abroad Scholarship has allowed me to fully immerse myself into this amazing experience, and take advantage of all this city has to offer. I look forward to bringing back all of this new knowledge to shape how I look at the world and my future educational endeavors.
Comments
Post a Comment