Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.146.3
Object Name
Poster
Title
Portfolio collection of Civil War Posters in Spain - Poster, S.E. El Generalisimo (S.E. The Supreme Commander).
People
Francisco Franco, Rafael Alberti, Maria Teresa Leon
Events
The Spanish Civil War
Date
1968
Description
Large print. It is a colourful print, with a figure wearing a cross, feathers, and other colourful clothing on a horse, the figure is holding a torch which looks like fire. This figure represents Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain as a dictator from 1939-1975 and overthrew the second Spanish republic during the Spanish Civil War. There is a swastika on the horse and images of Hitler on the figure's medals. On the top left of the poster there is a cloud, which looks like bombs are coming out of. On the left there are drawings of plants, with faces drawn inside; these faces look sad and distressed. Underneath the faces there is a small signature from the artist, saying "Canavate." The bottom of the poster says "the general." The poster itself was produced around 1937. This is a drawing of General Francisco Franco, the leader of Nationalist Spain. Franco is portrayed as a caricature - the figure being on the horse draws on the symbolism of other wartime leaders. The cacti, a swastika, bombs and images of Hitler touch on Franco's hostile dictatorship and his relationship with Nazi Germany. This portfolio collection considers the Spanish Civil War, which was from 1936-1939. In July 1936,General Franco launched a coup de ta against the left wing, democratically elected government. The fascist army were assisted but Germany and Italy, and the forces of the republic were weak in comparison - but they were provided with some weapons by the Soviet Union. Atrocities were committed by both sides and the war death toll was up to 500,000 people. The war saw republicans loyal to the left-leaning popular front government of the Second Spanish Republic, in alliance with both communist and syndicalist anarchists, fought against an insurrection by the nationalists, an alliance of Falangists, monarchists, conservatives and traditionalists. The war involved class struggle, religious struggle, struggles between dictatorships and democracy, fascism and communism and revolution. The Nationalists won the wore, who were led by Franco. During the war he commanded Spain's African colonial army. After he won the civil war, his dictatorship became cemented across Spain, enforced through the repression of political opponents, the use of forced labour, concentration camps and executions.
