Soldiers’ carousel 1917

Zygmunt Waliszewski made this ink and watercolour drawing, Soldiers’ Carousel, sometime in the 1920s or 30s. The image depicts soldiers on a merry-go-round, an amusement that highlights the absurd and dehumanizing aspects of military life. Waliszewski’s dark, expressionistic style, with its jagged lines and distorted figures, creates a sense of unease. Waliszewski was a Polish artist who spent much of his career in Paris. His work often reflected the turbulent social and political climate of interwar Europe. In Poland, the military held a prominent place in national identity. The nation regained independence only in 1918, after more than a century of foreign rule. The trauma of the First World War and the rise of nationalism contributed to a complex relationship with the military, which was seen as both a source of pride and a symbol of potential oppression. Understanding the context of Waliszewski’s Poland through historical archives and cultural studies can provide a more complete understanding of the artist’s critique.