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Children's Art from the Spanish Civil War: Drawings - Page Banner

Children’s Art from the Spanish Civil War: The Drawings

Drawing - "Cuando saliamos de Màlaga....."
Click to see a larger image (59k)

"Cuando saliamos de Màlaga antes de entrar los fascists"
(When we left Màlaga before the fascists came in)
[between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Maria Benitez, 12 years old
Colonia de St. Hilaire
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029904

The images reproduced in this virtual exhibit are from the Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds (F 126) and were drawn by Spanish children evacuated to "colonias infantiles" between 1936 and 1939.

The drawings have survived intact for over half a century and now re-appear as fresh as when they were first drawn. They depict the children's experience with warfare and evacuation and are just a few of the thousands created in perhaps the first instance of organized art therapy.

In 1937 over 3000 drawings were displayed in Valencia, Spain. Others were exhibited in England and the United States, primarily to help raise awareness and donations.

But irrespective of their original purpose or ultimate use, they are a poignant reminder in their simplicity of the impact of armed conflict on children the World over.

Drawing: "Como me imagino la guerra" (How I imagine the war), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Click to see a larger image (123K)

"Como me imagino la guerra"
(How I imagine the war)
[between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Ismael Medrano, 11 years old
Casa España
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029902
Drawing: "Escena de mi colonia" (Scene from my camp), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
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"Escena de mi colonia", (Scene from my camp),
[between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Francisco Ymez, 10 years old
Casa España
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029894
Drawing: "Un castillo y le carretero que pasantres autos" (A castle and a highway with three cars), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
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"Un castillo y le carretero que pasantres autos"
(A castle and a highway with three cars),
[between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Antonio Mejas, 10 years old
Colonia de St. Hilaire
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029903
Drawing: "Escena En Paris" (Scene in Paris), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
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"Escena En Paris"
(Scene in Paris), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Maria Paz Regidor, 12 years old
Casa España
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029901
Drawing: "Nuestra evacuación" (Our evacuation), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Click to see a larger image (111K)

"Nuestra evacuación"
(Our evacuation), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Esquirel Tierra, 13 years old
Colonia de Chenary
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029899
Drawing: "Mi evacuación al paso par un pueblo" (My evacuation passes by a village), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
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"Mi evacuación al paso par un pueblo"
(My evacuation passes by a village),
[between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Faustina Guadaño, 8 years old
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029897
Drawing: "Mi evacuación" (My evacuation), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Click to see a larger image (114K)

"Mi evacuación" (My evacuation),
[between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Manolo Esposito, 11 years old
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029895
Drawing: "Un bombareo y autos de la Cruz Roja" (A bombing and Red Cross vehicles), [between 1936 and 1939], Spain
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"Un bombareo y autos de la Cruz Roja"
(A bombing and Red Cross vehicles),
[between 1936 and 1939], Spain
Edurne de Burdain, 11 years old
Colonia de St. Hilaire
Alexander Albert MacLeod fonds
Reference Code: F 126-4
Archives of Ontario: I0029896