Cartoon for Mars 1893

Elihu Vedder made this Cartoon for Mars out of graphite and gouache, most likely in 1893. Vedder was an American Symbolist painter, and his work often grappled with themes of spirituality and the human condition. Here, the god Mars is depicted in a classical style, complete with helmet, spear and shield. Vedder made this cartoon as a preparatory study for a mural in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. The figure of Mars might encourage us to consider how ideals of masculinity are constructed and glorified. The Library of Congress was conceived as a monument to knowledge and enlightenment, yet the inclusion of Mars, the god of war, introduces a complex, and perhaps unsettling, element. Vedder's piece prompts us to reflect on the relationship between knowledge, power, and violence. What does it mean to enshrine an image of warfare within a space dedicated to learning and culture?