Captured Serbian faschist (Chetnik) 1944

Alfred Krupa made this painting, ‘Captured Serbian faschist (Chetnik)’ in 1944 with what looks like blue ink or watercolour. See how he's used this wash of blue, letting it pool and drip down the page? It's like he’s drawing with liquid, capturing a moment as much as a likeness. There’s something immediate and raw about the way the blue bleeds into the paper. Look closely, and you can see the artist’s hand in every stroke, every blot. The texture isn’t just on the surface; it feels like it’s coming from within, from the emotional intensity of the subject. The dark, concentrated blue in the figure’s hat and beard contrasts with the light, almost skeletal outlines of the surrounding shapes, creating a powerful sense of depth and unease. That concentrated patch in the center of his chest, it's like a knot of anxiety or suppressed rage. This piece reminds me of some of Goya’s more haunting drawings. Both artists aren't afraid to confront the darker sides of humanity with unflinching honesty. Art, at its best, holds space for these kinds of difficult conversations.