On front lines by the Dnieper (The TASS Window №906) 1944

This lithograph, "On front lines by the Dnieper (The TASS Window №906)," was created by the Kukryniksy collective in 1944. The visual field is dominated by a satirical scene rendered in bold, graphic lines and stark color contrasts, evoking a sense of derision. The composition is strikingly direct: a cartoonish horse, adorned with swastikas, is splayed out, defeated. Its posture, combined with the exaggerated grimace on what appears to be Hitler's face, undermines the idea of German military strength. The artists manipulate signs and cultural codes to dismantle the authority of Nazi Germany. The Kukryniksy collective disrupt conventional notions of heroism, employing caricature to mock and subvert the enemy. This approach highlights the inherent instability of signs and the contingent nature of meaning in art.