Columbus and St. George 1913

Oskar Kokoschka created "Columbus and St. George" using drypoint on buff paper. The composition is immediately striking for its raw, almost frenzied energy, achieved through agitated lines and stark contrasts. Kokoschka destabilizes the conventional heroic narrative of Columbus by intertwining it with St. George's battle against the dragon. We see a figure, presumably Columbus, in chains, juxtaposed with the subjugation implied by the dragon-slaying motif. This visual juxtaposition invites us to question the moral underpinnings of exploration and conquest. The dynamism of the lines contributes to a sense of unease. Kokoschka seems less interested in celebrating historical figures and more focused on exploring the psychological and ethical complexities inherent in acts of dominance and discovery. The formal qualities of the work, therefore, are not merely aesthetic but serve as a powerful means of critiquing established values.