Untitled (War and Money) c. 1940

This drawing by Joseph Anthony Buzzelli presents us with a chilling vision of war and its motives. At its core, the image revolves around a tank, skulls, eyes, and cascades of money, each laden with symbolic weight. Here, the motif of money drips like blood, evoking the insatiable greed that fuels conflict. This imagery resonates with ancient allegories of avarice, like the personification of greed in medieval morality plays. The disembodied eyes remind us of the all-seeing gaze of power, reminiscent of the Eye of Providence in Renaissance emblems, which signifies divine watchfulness. The addition of skulls reminds us of 'memento mori' images from antiquity that serve as symbols of mortality and decay. Buzzelli taps into a collective cultural memory, reminding us that these symbols recur through time. He stirs our deepest fears about the destructive forces of war and the corrupting influence of wealth. This work serves as a stark reminder of the cyclical nature of these themes throughout history, where old symbols are continuously revitalized with new meanings.