A statue caught in Madrid's contested past

A symbol of Spanish history, the Monument to Federico García Lorca, public art in Madrid, Spain, stands on the Plaza de Santa Ana, outside the Teatro Español. The statue represents the poet Federico García Lorca, creator of Yerma and other renowned works. The statue is commonly known as the Monument to Federico García Lorca or simply by the poet's name. The statue's creator is Julio López Hernández, who finished the work between 1984 and 1986. The statue's inscription reads 'Madrid, a Federico García Lorca'.

The statue represents García Lorca holding a lark between his hands. Larks are a recurring theme in his poems. Despite its placement in 1986, the statue was stored for a decade at the Cuartel del Conde-Duque before being moved to the Plaza de Santa Ana. The statue's location outside the Teatro Español, where García Lorca's works were performed, connects it to the world of literature and theater. Its placement became a source of political contention from the start.

In 2011, the lark on the statue was removed during a vandal attack. The statue has since become a rallying point for both the Right and Left, symbolizing the controversial history that shaped Spain in the 21st century.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons