untitled (puppet maker and the heads of Europe)

untitled (puppet maker and the heads of Europe), 1900s

Where object was made: Europe

Material/technique: pen; ink; pencil

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 20 x 18 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 7 7/8 x 7 1/16 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 24.1 x 21.5 cm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 9 1/2 x 8 7/16 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Gift from the Edward A. and Inge Maser Collection

Accession number: 2008.0215

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"Machine in a Void: World War I & the Graphic Arts," Mar-2010, Steve Goddard
High upon a cloud, this Vulcan-like figure and a putto complete a puppet of Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany. The identity of the puppets hanging in the upper righthand corner remains uncertain. The three full figures presumably represent the other Central Powers in the First
World War: Mehmed V, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire; Ferdinand I, Tsar of Bulgaria; and Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. It is also possible that the second puppet from the right represents Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy, with the Orthodox miter signifying Russia-like Italy, an Allied Power during the War. This drawing suggests that the major participants in the War are being manipulated by a higher power.