The debate generated by Pérez-Reverte that has caught the attention of 'The Times' about which painting best represents the Spanish people

“Picasso painted Guernica for us, but Goya painted our soul.” With this phrase, Arturo Pérez-Reverte unleashed a storm on social media that has ended up crossing borders and reaching the pages of the prestigious British newspaper The Times . What began as a comment on X (formerly Twitter) has ended up becoming a collective reflection on which work best captures the spirit of Spain.

It all began with a seemingly casual critique. The author of The Skin of the Drum expressed surprise upon hearing on a radio station that Picasso's Guernica was "the most important painting in Spanish art." The reaction was immediate. Many users asked him his opinion on which painting would hold such an honor, and Pérez-Reverte didn't hesitate: "Maybe Las Meninas, but that's just my opinion," he responded in his usual straightforward tone.

But it was a second message that ignited the debate. Hours later, the writer shared an image of Duel with Cudgels, one of Francisco de Goya's most raw Black Paintings, accompanied by a resounding statement: "I don't know if it's relevant, listen. Art has its fair share of doctors. But, in my opinion, this one is the most representative." The tweet became the epicenter of a cultural dispute that has brought to light old passions about the Spanish soul and its most universal portraitists.

For many, Goya's brutal scene, in which two figures beat each other to death while trapped in the mud, represents better than any other canvas the history of fratricidal conflict that has marked the country. From civil wars to the most current political divisions, Duel with Cudgels captures an uncomfortable but relatable truth.

Others, however, disagree. Defenders of Guernica emphasize its symbolic and universal dimension. "It is the greatest anti-war cry of the 20th century," some users assert. And the truth is that its presence at the United Nations or its exhibition at the Reina Sofía Museum make it a global symbol of committed art. The Times , in fact, echoed this same argument in its article, highlighting the emotional and diplomatic power of Picasso's work.

The debate isn't limited to just two names. Those who defend Velázquez's Las Meninas as a masterful portrait of power, the court, and the art of painting itself have also entered the conversation. For them, Spanishness is not defined solely by pain or conflict, but also by its history, its irony, and its baroque style.

The interesting thing about this phenomenon is that it has taken art out of the museums and into the bar, on mobile phones, and at the dinner table. Reverte's tweet has served as a catalyst for a conversation that is not only aesthetic, but also political, historical, and emotional. What defines us more: the silent violence of Goya, the international cry of Picasso, or the palace intrigue of Velázquez?

“Picasso painted Guernica for us, but Goya painted our soul.” With this phrase, Arturo Pérez-Reverte unleashed a storm on social media that has ended up crossing borders and reaching the pages of the prestigious British newspaper The Times . What began as a comment on X (formerly Twitter) has ended up becoming a collective reflection on which work best captures the spirit of Spain.