Where contrasts collide: "Madonna with the machine gun"

Dive into the art piece of Kārlis Padegs. 1932

Madonna with a Machine Gun (1932) by Kārlis PadegsLatvian National Museum of Art

The artist

Latvian graphic artist and painter Kārlis Padegs is the most extravagant personality in Latvian art history not only because of his works but also his provocative appearance.

In 1930s in Riga he was known as a legendary dandy and outsider.
His expressive works were in striking contrast to the traditionalist currents of the time.

Opposites

The painting "Madonna with the Machine Gun" brings together beauty and ugliness, triumph and destruction, light and darkness in a single symbolic message.

Character

The work shows a seemingly calm, light-haired woman with fine features who does not appear to be involved  in the action. 

Closer inspection

We see that she is held on the shoulders of several soldiers, whose expressions are unclear, disfigured by fear and horror. 

Medieval tradition

It may bring to mind the Medieval tradition of using the image of the Mother of God as a guardian and patroness in battle, carrying her image in front of the army or placing it on the defensive walls of the city.

Machine gun

In Kārlis Padegs' interpretation, Madonna is carrying neither the Christ Child, nor a cloak that could shield the soldiers, but rather a machine gun – the main “arbiter” (bringer of death) during World War I.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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