Guernica (Tapestry after 'Guernica' by Pablo Picasso)
This tapestry after the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso measures 10 by 22 feet and was woven by Atelier J. de la Baume-Durrbach in the Department of the Var in Southern France. Nelson A. Rockefeller commissioned the tapestry in 1955 and his wife Happy Rockefeller lent it to the United Nations in 1985. Artist Pablo Picasso personally supervised the production of the tapestry after his original painting.
Picasso painted Guernica in Paris in 1937 after the Spanish government commissioned him to create a work of art for the Spanish pavilion at the 1937 Paris World’s Fair. He named the painting after a Basque Country town in northern Spain, which was bombed during the Spanish Civil War. The original painting Guernica is grey, white, and black to express the horrors of war. There are motifs of people and animals suffering from the violence and chaos. The artist asked that the painting not be returned to Spain until “the re-establishment of public liberties” there. Currently, the original painting is on display at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain.
"This iconic image in a tapestry was placed at the entrance to the Security Council Chamber on 13 September 1985. The artwork was loaned to the United Nations and accepted by Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar. Mrs. Happy Rockefeller and members of her family attended the ceremony.
In 2021, the tapestry was retrieved for curation needs and returned on 5 Feb 2022. At the return, Mr. Rockefeller, Jr. said, "I am delighted and deeply grateful, along with my family, for the careful stewardship the Secretary-General and the broader United Nations team has provided for the Guernica tapestry. The Guernica tapestry with its probing symbolism – its depiction of horrific aspects of human nature - wrestles with the cruelty, darkness, and also a seed of hope within humanity. The Guernica tapestry is meant to be experienced and interpreted, with Picasso refusing to share its message when asked. I am grateful that the tapestry will be able to continue to reach a broader segment of the world’s population and magnify its ability to touch lives and educate.”
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in a December 15, 2021, letter to Mr. Rockefeller: “This is most welcome news as we end a difficult year of global hardship and strife. The Guernica tapestry speaks to the world about the urgent need to advance international peace and security. We are honoured to serve as careful stewards of this one-of-a-kind iconic work – as we draw inspiration from its message.”