A Universe of Things: Heroes & Villains

After losing his hands and eyesight in the First World War, Carlo Delcroix became president of the Association for Disabled and Invalid War Veterans and an enthusiastic supporter of Benito Mussolini and the Fascist Party. The marble version of this bust can be seen in the Casa Madre dei Mutilati in Rome, the national headquarters of the Association.

Italian artist and journalist Mino Somenzi was influential in promoting Futurism, linking it to Fascism and to a broader Roman artistic legacy. In this 1937 sculpture, he is depicted as a victim of censorship at a time when Futurism was under attack by conservative cultural critics. He included an illustration of the work in his book Difendo il Futurismo [Defending Futurism].

Brazilian populist politician Getúlio Vargas served first as that country’s president, then dictator, and then president again after being deposed in a coup. Known as “the father of the poor,” he favored social welfare and advocated for workers’ rights while being staunchly anti-Communist.

The last emperor in the 2,000-year-old Ethiopian monarchy, Haile Selassie captured the world’s attention by leading the country’s resistance to Fascist Italy’s 1935 invasion. He became an enduring symbol of African resistance to foreign control.

Paola Ojetti was a writer, translator, and actress—a modern woman, but also the daughter of Ugo Ojetti, an illustrious and conservative art critic. Here she is depicted in an ancient format, associating her with Italy’s classical heritage.

A revered and aging hero of the First World War, Henri Philippe Pétain tarnished his reputation for generations to come when he served as the head of France’s puppet government under Nazi occupation.

This unknown young girl, with a stoic outlook and stylized features, was likely a neighbor of the artist. Sargent Claude Johnson was one of the most important artists portraying African-American subjects during this period.

In this sculpture by artist and longtime friend Dorothy Haase of Wolfsonian founder Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson, Jr. the viewer is asked to take in Micky’s rascally grin and decide: hero or villain?

American boxer Joe Louis galvanized the public with his 1938 victory over Germany’s Max Schmeling to defend the world heavyweight championship. Americans celebrated the match as a struggle between democracy and fascism, good and evil, even while their country denied African Americans equality as citizens.

Benito Mussolini came to power in 1922 as the head of Italy’s Fascist state and advocated nationalism, militarism, and state power. Often glorified in portraiture, this Futurist sculpture presents Mussolini’s profile in constant motion, an all-seeing, machine-like presence.

A Māori chief, Te Mamaku led military and political resistance against British colonial power in New Zealand. He advocated for indigenous land rights, the preservation of Māori traditions, and equal justice under the law.