Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.146.8
Object Name
Poster
Title
Portfolio collection of Civil War Posters in Spain - El Generalissimo poster
People
Francisco Franco, Rafael Alberti, Maria Teresa Leon
Events
The Spanish Civil War
Date
1968
Description
Large poster, titled "El Generalisimo." This refers to General Francisco Franco. The poster shows a very large figure, with a skeleton like face and a cubist-style uniform inscribed with a Nazi Swastika on the front. This is supposed to be Franco. He has a long red cape, which is being held by three much smaller military men - this empha2 sises Franco's power and dictatorship. The artists signature is in black text on the side - "Pedrero."He was a member of the Fine Arts Section of the socialist trade-union (Sindicato de Profesionales de las Bellas Artes, UGT), which was one of the most important organizations of artists active in the propaganda effort during the war. He is know to have designed other propaganda posters for the Junta Delegada de Defensa de Madrid, the agency that issued this poster. 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 by 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.
