In the autobiography of Man Ray, who was a good friend of Picasso, it's mentioned that the sketchbooks are not preliminary studies, but sketches that came _after_ he finished the painting. Aparently Picasso was still so outraged after finishing the painting, he had to keep going. Man Ray scoffs at the museumguides who explain the sketchbooks as preliminary when according to him they are not. Their original intent adds so much more gravitas to how Picaso (and other people) felt about Guernica.

The reason why I mention this is because those sketchbooks were the first time I got an insight in the process of an artist, realising that a painting doesn't just come out of thin air, but requires meticulous planning. (or so I thought) That's when I realised that anyone can be an artist and it's not just a matter of talent. Seeing the Geurnica and those sketchbooks was a pivotal moment for me to finally pick up a pencil and learn how to draw. Joke's on me... (although I realize the way Picasso works allows you to skip the planning phase, which is just not possible in other painting styles)