Vajda Lajos Békeszörny 1939 1939

Vajda Lajos created "Békeszörny," or "Peace Monster," in 1939, using a mixed media of pastel and ink. Vajda, a Hungarian Jewish artist, made this piece on the eve of World War II, a time of increasing political instability and personal anxiety. This unsettling image of an unidentifiable creature, lying still in the landscape, perhaps reflects the growing sense of dread during this period. We can think about how the title, "Peace Monster", hints at the deceptive nature of peace, suggesting that beneath the surface of tranquility, monstrous realities may lurk. The red markings could be interpreted as wounds or indicators of internal tension. Vajda’s personal experiences of cultural and ethnic tensions in Hungary certainly influenced his work. He tragically died during the war, just two years after completing this artwork. The "Peace Monster" encapsulates the emotional and psychological landscape of a world on the brink of chaos, inviting us to reflect on the fragility of peace and the ever-present potential for conflict and suffering.