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Visitors to Madrid’s Reina Sofía will now be allowed to take photos and selfies with the museum’s most famous work of art: Pablo Picasso’s acclaimed anti-war piece, Guernica. New director Manuel Segade lifted the 30-year-long photo ban at the beginning of the month in the hopes of attracting more visitors while ensuring that traffic through the space flows more smoothly.

 

However, the use of flash photography and selfie sticks is still prohibited.

 

“The photo restrictions in the Guernica room have been lifted since 1 September. Visitors are now allowed to take pictures but without flash or any stabilisation elements such as tripods or selfie sticks,” the museum spokesperson said.

 

“It only takes a few seconds to take a selfie and so the pace of the public will flow more,” he added.

 

 

The government of Spain purchased the Guernica, which depicts the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, from Picasso in 1937 but the Malaga born artist insisted it be given to New York’s Museum of Modern Art for safekeeping when the Second World War broke out. The masterpiece enjoyed pride of place in the El Prado museum from 1981 until 1992, when it was transferred to the Reina Sofía and the photography ban was introduced.

 

Mr Segade, who took over as museum director in June, explained: “I would like us to reach 100% photographic accessibility, especially for a young audience who live filtered by a screen. I think it is also important to pay attention to their way of approaching reality.”

 

Around the time of his appointment, the Reina Sofía hit the headlines when the photo ban was apparently lifted for Rolling Stones star Mick Jagger during a private viewing of the Guernica.

 

 

Image: Angela Hu via Wikimedia Commons