Born and raised in Malaga, Spain, Pablo Picasso maintained a fierce loyalty to his native country throughout his life. It was in Spain that Picasso first learned to draw and paint under his father’s instruction, and it was in Spain where he attended the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, furthering his formal training in the arts. Picasso’s love and devotion to Spain influenced his artwork throughout his life, perhaps most noticeably in Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica, which depicts the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. Picasso’s love of futbol (soccer) is conveyed in such works as his 1961 original color lithograph fittingly titled Football. While Picasso never lived to see his Spanish team win a World Cup championship, Spain triumphantly prevailed as victors of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. As the highly anticipated 2014 World Cup games begin in Brazil, Spain remains optimistic that they can once again achieve victory. With an experienced, skillful team and a strong sense of determination, Picasso’s fellow Spaniards hope to once again return to Spain as champions. As key player Iker Casillas states, “Our objective is to always beat the rivals in front of us and make our country proud. Spain will do everything possible to win” (Associated Press, 2014). Spain kicks off with its first game against the Netherlands today in the World Cup Group B opener- may the best team win!
References:
Associated Press (2014, June 12). Del Bosque: Mature Spain ready to deliver against Netherlands in World Cup Group B opener. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/06/12/del-bosque-mature-spain-ready-to-deliver-against-netherlands-in-world-cup-group/
