The Cannon 

Aleksandr Nikolaevich Samokhvalov made this etching called The Cannon in 1919. The year is important. This was a time of revolution and civil war in Russia, a period of immense social upheaval. Samokhvalov’s print shows us the human cost of conflict. The figures are gaunt and draped in rags, and the image is dominated by a feeling of weariness. Above, a bird flies freely, offering a contrast to the static despondency of the figures below. Note how the cannon at the bottom of the image is surrounded by a whirlwind of lines. Perhaps this suggests the senseless destruction of war. As art historians, we can look at the political and social context of the Russian Revolution and the role of art institutions at the time. Researching propaganda art of the period might throw light on the anti-war message here. As we interpret art, it’s important to remember that its meaning is always shaped by its historical moment.