Untitled 1943

This political cartoon by the collective Kukryniksy is a masterful example of caricature, painted with ink, gouache and watercolour on paper. Just imagine the process of building up layers of washes, hatching and cross-hatching, the fluidity of the line. The deep blue creates a somber backdrop, emphasizing the grotesque image of a deflated man who is perched precariously on a chair. The repeating swastikas that adorn the chair, like a macabre wallpaper, are jarring, while the knife adds a final, unsettling touch. The artist’s brushstrokes are loose and expressive, and there’s a sense of urgency in the way the image has been rendered. I wonder, were they thinking of Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son when they made this? Or maybe Philip Guston’s hooded figures? Artists are in a constant conversation across time, responding to and challenging one another's visions. Painting is all about being open to ambiguity, allowing for a multitude of interpretations.