Soldier with Death before a Carousel
Arthur Kraft
American (1922-1977)
Graphite and oil on poster board
‘Artist Arthur Kraft’s experience in World War II influenced Soldier with Death before a Carousel (ca. 1947-51). In this painting, a skeleton wearing a helmet and boots holds a champagne flute. This image likely symbolizes the alcohol abuse many veterans face as a result of their traumatic experiences at war. Both Kraft and the artist Marcus Jansen utilize symbolism in their works. Kraft uses the champagne flutes, figures representing death, and white doves; Jansen depicts empty dishes and a few coins in Empty Plates (2007) to emphasize the economic effects of war on communities, families, and individuals. These signs and symbols reveal personal and universal reflections on war across generations.’
Maverick Mist 
So much symbolism going one here. I spent a lot of time thinking about the empty but human shaped shroud with the key and crown, but came up with nothing.
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I’m not sure about that one either but I thought the carousel was interesting. It has a history of originating from cavalry training. In the 1100’s the Arabs played a game on horseback tossing a ball so they would become adept at riding with one hand. I think it was the Spanish that called it Carosella or “little war.”
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The ‘tossing the ball” part might explain the two red balls. I often wish my discretionary income was such that I could buy a set of The Oxford English Dictionary like I was buying a magazine.
I went to the Univs of Mo – St. Louis which was a commuter college with an 60 -90 minute roundtrip drive so I stayed on campus when I had two hours between classes. Aside from doing homework I used the time for research in the library, e.g. reading all the Reader’s Digest joke pages from the 1940s and 50s editions. I also spent an inordinate amount of time with a huge two volume set of the OED. And yes, my initial research on that was looking up the origin of all the dirty words. 🙂
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So you were a normal college student then. ☺
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I feel there’s more to this painting. He used quite a bit of symbolism, like Dali did.
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There is a lot of symbolism and like you, I thought of Dali as well.
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Dali was always a favorite of mine and I finally got to the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fl about a year ago – positively amazing!!
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I’d also like to see that someday.
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If you do – make positive that you see the virtual tour into one of his paintings!
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The work is very Dali-like.
The shroud… maybe refers to the separative, nationalistic power that people mindlessly follow that is, after all is said and done, empty of love.
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Good take on it Tom. The key being locked minds maybe.
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I really like a lot of Magritte’s works. 🙂
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Another really good surrealist.
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A thought provoking disturbing work
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Indeed 🙂
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Chilling!!!
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Indeed, thanks. 🙂
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