In March 1938, almost two years into the Spanish Civil War, General Franco’s Nationalist troops launched an offensive in Aragon. By mid April, following sustained aerial bombardments they had gained the upper hand and reached the Mediterranean Sea, cutting Republican territory in two.
Luz Ferran Latorre in creating this arpillera gives us a window into the impact of the Civil War on Embid de Ariza, a small town in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon. Although it suffered no bombardment or direct fighting, the effect of the Civil War was multi-layered:
“Young 18 year old males were called to enrol. My mother’s older brother was one of those. They also took all our animals, be those horses, mules or others. They were used to work the land and they promised to give them back once the war was over.”
She speaks of her Uncle’s return: “Our family was one of the lucky ones as my mother’s brother came back a few years later and the mule was found.”
However, for those who returned - some with horrific injuries - their homecoming was tinged with guilt at having survived and grief for those who didn’t return. For many, this multi-faceted loss remains poignant over 80 years later: “… we all have felt the sadness of a lost generation.” | 
