High Command. The New Order. New York, 1941.

SZYK, Arthur. High Command. Signed and Dated “Arthur Szyk New York 1941”. Watercolor and gouache on paper. Sheet size: x 10 7/8″ x 8 3/8″. Image size: x 6″ x 5 1/4″. Very Good condition.

In this vibrant and carefully rendered painting, Arthur Szyk shows two field marshals of the German Wehrmacht holding batons that signify their rank above that of other generals. Szyk depicts the men with many medals and other decorations from the traditional officer’s uniform of the Prussian army, thereby reminding the viewer of the long-standing militarism of Prussian and German culture. The marshals’ swords, pistol, and Iron Crosses also contribute to this theme, while their monocles suggest their ridiculousness. The artist also portrays both men with swastika armbands, emphasizing their commitment to the Nazi regime and its ideology.

Exhibition History: Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, CA, May 17–October 31, 1991; Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, 29 August 2008–4 January 2009.

Publishing History: The New Order. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1941 [page 23]. Drawing Against National Socialism and Terror, Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, 2008, pp. 118-119.