Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Business Administration

DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Art Appreciation

Art Criticism

Prepared by:
 The Echo of Screams was created by David Alfaro Siqueiros in 1937. The
painting is on display at the New York Museum of Modern Art. When I look at the
painting, it portrays the realities of war and the misery that it causes to humans,
especially innocent civilians. The painting represents the well-known Spanish civil war in
particular. I can say that Siqueiros' work was influenced by his bold and moving political
statements.

Guns, damaged cannons, and debris are obvious features on the artwork. The
texture of the artwork is really rough and miserable. To reflect a very dark and terrible
era of time, the painter utilized powerful colors. On the top of the artwork are some dark
clouds, which represent the difficult times brought on by the war. Rough edges and
sharp corners appear on the debris. The twisted metal, like every other element, is a
symbol for the war's never-ending misery.

The first thing that came to mind when I viewed the artwork was a deep sense of
sadness and empathy. When I look at the artwork, the two sobbing babies are the most
obvious figures I notice. One baby's head appears enlarged, and the other is sitting on a
pile of debris.  For me, the larger infant head represents the anguish of the innocent
people who died as a result of the war. The other baby, wailing on the debris, is worried
about his future because his native country is unsafe. Also, I believe that this baby
demonstrates how hopeless, alone, and miserable his situation is.

I believe that the audience is captivated by the emotional meaning of the echo of
scream. Even if you don't grasp the context, it immediately creates a deep feeling of
sadness. I can say that the painter was able to connect with his audience. Although the
picture reflects his perspective on the Spanish Civil War, it is equally appropriate in
today's environment. I believe the painter was able to illustrate the human sorrow and
the challenges that society was suffering at the time so perfectly that we were able to
experience and recognize the realistic issue of real life.