Reina Sofia must-see, famous paintings

Cubism

This revolutionary early 20th-century movement broke down objects into geometric forms. The Reina Sofía has excellent examples by Pablo Picasso, like Guernica and Georges Braque, with "Cartes et dés" (Cards and Dice)

Surrealism

Emerging from Dadaism (after WWI), Surrealism tapped into the subconscious mind, dream imagery, and juxtapositions. Salvador Dalí's The Face of the Great Masturbator and Joan Miró's "Peinture (Escargot, femme, fleur, étoile)" (Painting [Snail, Woman, Flower, Star]) are prime examples.

Abstract Expressionism

This American post-WWII movement emphasized the artist's gesture and emotional expression. While not a major focus of the Reina Sofia, you can find works by artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

Guernica by Picasso

During the height of the Spanish Civil War on April 26, 1937, the Basque city of Gernika was bombarded by the armies of Germany and Italy to express support for the nationalist forces contending against the government of the Second Republic. This incident inspired Pablo Picasso to create Guernica.

Key Elements

• The painting uses shades of grey, making it feel cold and lifeless, emphasizing the bleakness of war.
• Symbols:
• A screaming woman: She clutches her dead child, symbolizing the suffering of innocent civilians.
• A terrified horse: It represents the pain and chaos of war.
• A bull: This powerful figure is open to interpretation. It could be fascism, brutality, or the forces of war itself.
• No Cause, Just Effect: There are no weapons or soldiers, just the aftermath of violence. It focuses on the human cost of war.

Face of the Great Masturbator by Dalí

Salvador Dalí, known for his eccentricity, has a unique work displayed at the Reina Sofia Museum - The Face of the Great Masturbator. This painting, with surrealism oozing from every corner, delves into Dalí's deepest sexual fantasies. It's autobiographical, with Dalí himself appearing in various scenes. After spending a few days with Gala in Cadaqués, Salvador Dalí created the painting in late summer 1929. Gala had chosen to remain with him despite her husband, poet Paul Éluard, returning to Paris alone at that time. 

Key Elements

• Central Face: Large, yellowish head with long nose, anguished.
• Lobster Mouth: Giant lobster instead of mouth, decaying with ants, symbolizes sexual anxiety.
• Landscape: Sky and barren land, small figures and egg symbolize fertility.
• Grasshopper: Giant grasshopper with four legs, symbolizes anxieties.
• Ants: Represent decay or anxiety, found on lobster, face, and grasshopper.

Snail, Woman, Flower, Star by Joan Miró

Joan Miró, a renowned Spanish artist of the 20th century, was quite versatile - he didn't just paint; he also sculpted, engraved, and worked with ceramics. One of his significant works housed at the Reina Sofia Museum is called Snail, Woman, Flower, Star. It's a surrealistic painting, part of Miró's "wild paintings" series from 1934, reflecting the fear of fascism and the pre-war atmosphere in Spain.

Key Elements

• Abstract Figures: Dreamlike, fragmented figures, hinting at snail, woman, flower, and star.
• Linework: Bold outlines, biomorphic shapes.
• Color: Complex background, bright foreground colors.
• Tone Shift: Possible shift from whimsical to serious or dramatic.
• Written Words: French title ("Peinture [Escargot, femme, fleur, étoile]") on canvas, part of Miró's incorporation of words.