Untitled 1943

This drawing by the Kukryniksy collective feels so visceral, like a snapshot of something urgent, dashed down with ink and colour wash. The figure hunches, precarious on a spindly chair, like a puppet about to be toppled. The swastikas decorating the chair mockingly undermine its grandeur, and the colours are acidic, sickly. Look closely at the lines – they’re not just outlines, they seem to vibrate with anger and energy. The artist isn't afraid to let the ink bleed and pool, adding to the chaotic feel. The drawing feels like a pressure release, turning something monstrous into something absurd. It reminds me a little of Philip Guston's later work, that same willingness to embrace a kind of awkwardness in the service of truth. Art doesn't have to be pretty; sometimes, it just has to be real.