Art is not a formalism only. Knowing that Guernica was the location of one (maybe the) first bombing of civilians, or how it was protected, insured during the c

Art is not a formalism only. Knowing that Guernica was the location of one (maybe the) first bombing of civilians, or how it was protected, insured during the covil war, or why (as there were before) there are 2 guys with rifles guarding it, all adds to understand the artwork. Some of these things cannot be learned from staring at the artwork.