Untitled 1943

This untitled work by Kukryniksy, made sometime around the mid-20th century, possibly uses watercolor or gouache. There’s a nervous energy in the application of the paint, especially around the figure's face. I love how the colors are slightly acidic, almost sickly, which gives it a surreal quality. It’s like the artist is trying to capture not just what’s seen, but also how it *feels* to be bombarded by propaganda. Look at the way the paint is applied around the figure’s mouth – a dark gash that is emphasized by the angle of their head. Is this a person expressing shock, or are they literally being assaulted by the broadcast? The flat background throws everything into stark relief, and that thin green line connecting the figure to the TV feels like an electric current, or a leash. This piece feels like a conversation with Grosz, but with a distinctly Eastern European sensibility. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be pretty; sometimes, it needs to be a mirror reflecting the ugliness of the world.