Adolf Hitler is known throughout the world for the mass killings of Jewish and other peoples during World War II (WWII). A little less known is the fact that Hitler’s first ambition was to become an artist. Though he had some skill, it wasn’t enough to pursue this dream. Here, we see a little of his talent in his painting A71 Tank Patrol.
Dated 1917, this painting depicts “a German tank followed by a partial squad of soldiers advancing through a war-torn town, with war-torn trees on each side of a heavily shelled road,” (Snyder). Hitler fought with Germany during World War I (WWI), when this watercolor was painted, and this watercolor most likely portrays a scene he encountered.
The eye is immediately drawn to the WWI German Panzer tank on the bottom left. The soldiers surrounding the tank appear casual but cautious. They don’t expect to run into trouble but are ready to return fire if necessary. The road they are travelling is clear, allowing for easy passage. It’s obvious whatever battle had been is long over by the amount of destruction of the town and the minimal amount of debris on the road.
The town itself is not much more than a large pile of rubble. One of the most noticeable signs of destruction is the trees. Blackened from gunfire, they stand limply among the rubble, not much more than twigs. These trees portray the sadness and loss of life, both human and in nature. To the left of the soldiers, the viewer see the remains of what used to be buildings, and the few that are still standing are not even intact. In the rubble there are bricks, large pieces of metal, frames of buildings, partial walls, and even a bicycle wheel. The bicycle wheel brings a level of humanity to the painting, adding to the sadness and despair. To the right of the soldiers there is an overturned tank, adding to the understanding of the level of destruction this town has seen.
This painting depicts the destruction of an entire town, yet it lacks the depth of emotion typically seen in these scenes. This is due to the choice of paint. The pastel look of the watercolors softens the emotion of the painting. Given that the use of these watercolors was the choice of the artist, it suggests a disconnect between the artist and the true emotion of the scene. Knowing the artist was Hitler, and the atrocities he would commit in thirty years, this watercolor offers not only a depiction of war-torn town during WWI, but also an insight into the man who painted it.
Works Cited
Snyder’s Treasusres: Adolf Hitler Original Watercolor Artworks. 2009. Web. May 6, 2011.
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