Look, Vistula is Near Poster 1914

This poster was made by Kazimir Malevich. It features a large, caricatured figure of a German soldier looming over the landscape. Note the soldier’s spiked helmet, a symbol deeply rooted in Prussian military tradition, designed to inspire awe and project power. But here, the helmet seems deflated, almost comical. Similarly, the soldier’s inflated body suggests not strength, but grotesque excess. This juxtaposition is fascinating, because we have seen the image of the soldier throughout time. One recalls the Roman sculptures of triumphant emperors, or even the heroic figures of Renaissance art. Yet here, the symbol of military might is subverted, turned into an object of ridicule. This poster plays on the collective fear and animosity toward the invading forces, transforming the potent symbol of the German soldier into a figure of absurdity. It evokes a sense of subconscious reassurance—that the enemy, despite their menacing appearance, is ultimately vulnerable. The cyclical nature of this image’s transformation highlights how symbols of power are constantly renegotiated throughout history, reflecting the ever-changing dynamics of cultural memory and psychological projection.