War Monument 1952

Edmond Casarella created this print, "War Monument," using an etching technique. At first glance, the eye is drawn to a skeletal structure of vertical and intersecting lines. The composition, rendered in monochromatic tones, evokes a sense of desolation, with the textured surface adding to this emotional landscape. The linear abstraction hints at architectural forms—arches and rectangular shapes—but the instability of their arrangement prevents any clear representation. The monument seems to be disintegrating before our eyes. Here, Casarella destabilizes established ideas of traditional monuments, which historically symbolize triumph and permanence. Instead, he presents us with a monument in decay, a semiotic sign perhaps representing the futility of war. Note how the artist uses line and form to challenge fixed meanings and encourage a dialogue about memory and the impact of conflict. This print invites us to reinterpret the cultural codes associated with war memorials.