Conflict and Conscience

HER face fractured into shards of harsh colours, with her eyes forming two sharp peaks of her handkerchief, Picasso’s complex Weeping Woman packs emotional punch. The painting, personifying the pain caused by the bombing of the Basque capital of Guernica in 1937, is a star attraction at the Laing Gallery’s of Conflict and Conscience: British Artists and the Spanish Civil War. While clearly a favourite with visitors, it does not detract from what is a fascinating collection of paintings, posters, cartoons, prints in a range of styles.

One of the most significant conflicts of the twentieth century, the Spanish Civic War was fought between supporters of the democratically-elected Republican government and a rebel Nationalist force led by General Franco.

“It’s called British Artists and the Spanish Civil War, but also brings in European artists that the British were connected to. And it places the artwork in its social context of the war and the political situation at the time," says Laing Art Gallery’ keeper of Art Sarah Richardson. “The left-wing Artists International Association had a very large number of members. These were politically committed artists, but from a wide range of views; and they were really campaigning for the Republican cause and to end the non-intervention policy of Britain.

“Felicity Ashbee produced three very powerful stark posters campaigning for aid in the form of milk and medical supplies clothes for Republican in Spain families - many of whom were starving, but they were such powerful images that the ones on display here weren’t accepted by London Transport.”

The exhibition also features posters by non-partisan artists working for relief funds, including a dramatic poster b y Frank Brangwyn.

Some artists joined the ranks of 2,500 volunteers from Britain, who formed part of an International Brigade of 35,000 fighters from 53 countries in Europe. “Among them was Clive Branson who adopted this unstyled man-of-the-people manner of painting, because he was very politically committed and wanted to adopt a style that he thought would communicate directly with people,” says Sarah.

One wall in the gallery is dominated by huge banner embroidered by the women of Barcelona and given to his battalion. Another room features paintings Branson did as a captive. along with striking pencil drawings of fellow prisoners.

One of the most poignant exhibits are the works of Felicia Browne, who was the first woman combatant to go to Spain and the first British person to be killed in action. Her fellow fighters were unable to remove her body from the battlefield, but they retrieved her sketchpad. Her drawings of Spanish militia men and woman feature alongside an earlier self portrait which radiates self-assured defiance.

The Republican cause was taken up as a theme by surrealists, who are well represented in exhibition.

“Artists put together various schemes like portraits of Spain, where they would try to fund raise," says Sarah. “John Armstrong responded to the conflict with a painting of a blindfolded woman, perhaps representing Britain and her non-interventionist stance. In another, scraps are swept along empty street; one may say by the winds of war, with the dove of peace scattered in the sky. His surreal images of houses blown apart and opened to the sky are powerful, attractive and sharply detailed.”

Not all artists supported the Republicans. Percy Wyndham Lewis, a critic of communism, invoked the 15th-century Siege of Barcelona – in which John II of Aragon crushed Catalan constitutionalists – in his Surrender of Barcelona(1934–7) commemorating the fall of the city to Franco’s troops Another notable picture is Walter Nessler Premonition which transfers the tragedy of Guernica to London, foretelling what happened during the Blitz.

Other artists include FE McWilliams, Edward Burra, and teenage prodigy Ursula McCannell.

The exhibition in partnership with Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, runs until June 7. Admission charges apply.