Visitors to Madrid’s Reina Sofía museum will no longer be berated by staff if they take a photo of Pablo Picasso‘s Guernica painting. Earlier this month, the institution lifted the 30-year ban on capturing the artist’s seminal work, which commented on the horrors of the Spanish Civil War.
“Visitors are now allowed to take pictures but without flash or any stabilization elements such as tripods or selfie sticks,” according to a museum representative in an interview The Art Newspaper. The institution hopes that the change will help the flow of traffic when viewing the artwork. “It only takes a few seconds to take a selfie and so the pace of the public will flow more,” added another official.
Reina Sofía’s new director Manuel Segade also hopes the lift will attract a younger audience, who he stated “live filtered by a screen. I think it is also important to pay attention to their way of approaching reality.” Recently, however, the museum came under fire as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger was allowed to hold a private viewing and selfie with Guernica — stirring controversy from the public via social media.
Elsewhere, artists come to Morocco’s aid through earthquake relief sale.
Reina Sofía
C. de Sta. Isabel, 52,
28012 Madrid, Spain
