About this artwork
Divided into smaller scenes, in the manner of comic-book illustrations, this print shows General Franco looking like a deformed vegetable, astride a horse, tightrope walking, smashing up sculptures and so on. A skilled military tactician, General Franco was part of a right-wing military coup, which overthrew Spain’s elected left-wing government in 1936. Civil War ensued. The bull, which is attacking him in the fifth image, symbolises Republican Spain. Picasso was a strong supporter of the Popular Front and an opponent of Franco. He gave these prints to Roland Penrose, the English artist, writer and collector, much of Penrose’s collection of Surrealist art belongs to the Gallery of Modern Art.
Updated before 2020
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artist:
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title:Dream and lie of Franco (Sheet 1)
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date created:8 January 1937
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materials:Etching and aquatint on paper (11/150)
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measurements:Plate size: 31.20 x 42.00 cm (framed: 59.00 x 77.00 x 2.30 cm)
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object type:
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credit line:Long Loan, The Penrose Collection, 1997
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accession number:GML 800
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gallery:
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artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
The son of an artist, Picasso was born in Málaga, Spain, and studied at art school in Barcelona. He visited Paris in 1900 and after several extended stays settled there in 1904. Picasso was a hugely prolific and highly influential artist who worked in numerous styles throughout his life. His cubist...