Carnival of children with a flag 1930

Tadeusz Makowski painted ‘Carnival of children with a flag’, a work with an unknown date, that explores the themes of childhood and identity through abstracted figures. Living in France during the early 20th century, Makowski was part of a generation grappling with rapid social and political change. The rise of nationalism, the trauma of World War I, and the emergence of new cultural forms deeply impacted his perspective. Here, the masked children can be seen as both innocent and unsettling, reflecting the anxieties of the era. The masks hide their individual identities, perhaps suggesting the loss of individuality within larger social structures. Makowski’s personal experiences as a Polish émigré also inform this work. Being caught between cultures, and perhaps feeling unseen, may resonate with the hidden faces and stylized forms. What narratives do these children represent? Are they celebrants, innocents, or something more complex?