The Road to Almeria

 The Road to, and from, Almeria

 

 

One of the most hellish episodes of the Spanish Civil War, among very many such episodes, was the bombing and strafing of the thousands of refugees fleeing from the Nationalist (Francoist) takeover of Malaga in early 1937. The refugees were trying to reach the relative but temporary safety of Almeria, about 200k east of Malaga on the same south coast. The route between the two cities was the old N340 coast road, vulnerable not only to air attack but also to bombardment from the sea. Estimates of casualties vary wildly, but they were certainly in the thousands. The death dealers were mainly Italian and German warplanes and gunships.

Van Gogh Self Portraits

 Van Gogh Self Portraits

 

My overwhelming feeling was of sadness. Here was such a bold and innovative artist, destined to influence C20 painters like none other. Here was such a depressed, unhappy, and desperate young man. Genius may have been flowing through Van Gogh’s brush, but it was no solace.