Kriegsostern 1942 - 1948

Karl Wiener made this drawing called Kriegsostern, or War Easter, at an unknown date using graphite and ink. The palette is limited, almost grayscale, but that allows the strange, sharp forms to come forward. The artist is really thinking through the image, and you can see the process in the linework. Look at the way the drawing is built up: solid architectural forms, surreal bell shapes in the sky, the rigid lines of the soldiers, all dominated by a giant woman, maybe an Easter deity? There's a cross on the pyramid and what look like Easter eggs. The whole scene is unsettling. I'm drawn to the dead bird near the front, how it’s just splayed there. The artist has taken the time to show us, in detail, its demise. The drawing style is similar to George Grosz, and it uses its bleakness to leave a mark. It leaves you with more questions than answers.