Author: Adrian Georgescu
The Brukenthal National Museum preserves an important collection of objects and documents from the First and Second World Wars, some of which are related to the food situation on the front – a subject often encountered in propaganda for one's own cause, in order to persuade and thus win public opinion in favor of war. This is also the case of the caricature seen as an artistic element of protest and fine criticism brought by civil society to the war and its horrors.
The Altemberger House Museum of History within the Brukenthal National Museum holds, in the Documentary Graphics collection, a Kriegs-Album / War Album which includes, in addition to vintage document photographs, drawings on the subject of front life or military figures.
Executed by the German artist (graphic designer) Rud Kristen, a well-known name of the genre in the early 20th century, these cartoons – which are printed on postcards before, during or immediately after the Great War – illustrate some life issues on front. Thus, in addition to satirizing, directly or symbolically, some mentalities, situations and characters from the 4th Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment (formerly Hoch- und Deutschmeister), stationed in Vienna, the author also refers to the lack of hygiene or to the poor endowment (or even non-existent) of troops with sanitary supplies, food and war equipment. The acidic – but well-dosed – irony of his touches is distinguished by the clarity of expression while the dramatic tension is achieved thanks to the strong black / white contrasts that characterize them.