Untitled 

This work by Kukryniksy presents us with a biting satire of Hitler, rendered with ink and watercolor. At first glance, one sees Hitler depicted both as a diminutive figure flexing his arm, and as a grandiose, armored titan on an artist's canvas. The symbol of the raised arm, a gesture intended to project power and strength, is deflated here. The puny arm of the real Hitler mocks the inflated, armor-clad image he aspires to. This evokes the classical motif of the 'miles gloriosus' – the braggart soldier – a figure as old as Plautus, embodying false bravado. The artistic rendering itself becomes a form of critique, underscoring the psychological chasm between aspiration and reality. The artist here doesn't just depict; he dissects, revealing the grotesque disparity between the self-aggrandizing image and the pathetic reality. A powerful statement about the deceptive nature of appearances, this work engages our collective memory of hubris and its inevitable downfall.