Hitler Conducting Choir of International Followers. New York, early 1940s.

SZYK, Arthur. Sketch of Hitler Conducting Choir of International Followers. (New York, early 1940s.) Pencil on paper. Sheet size 11″ x 7 15/16″.  Very Good condition.

In this piece, Szyk envisions Hitler as a sinister musical conductor, standing and gesticulating robotically to a table of tiny followers. His eyes are wide and vacant as he gazes above his seated minions, further driving home Szyk’s mechanical interpretation of the Führer. Standing at the head of the long table, he seems to be delivering a directive to his seated followers, whom Szyk portrays as small children. Perched awkwardly atop high stools, they raise their hands obediently in a salute, their mouths agape in a silent song. At the other end of the table, a lumpy, scowling Mussolini raises his hand towards Hitler. It is reasonable to assume that the other child-leaders seated at the table are high ranking Axis officials, although their exact identities remain a mystery. In this work Szyk clearly criticizes Hitler and condemns the acquiescence of the many other world leaders that became his puppets.

Provenance: Alexandra Szyk Bracie, daughter of Arthur Szyk.

Exhibition History: Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, 29 August 2008–4 January 2009.

Publishing History: Drawing Against National Socialism and Terror, Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, pp. 136–137.

Literature: Katja Widmann, Art Historian and Curator, DHM catalogue: “The undated study demonstrates how Szyk approached a theme’s visualization. Here he worked with the image of the conductor, to illustrate Adolf Hitler’s position in the international hierarchy of power. Hitler stands a the head of a table and conducts a gathering of figures in uniform. Their various caps indicate that they are of differing nationality. Only Hitler and the Italian “Duce” Benito Mussolini, at the opposite end of the table, are identifiable. The German dictator subjugates his table companions to his will: obediently they raise their hands in a Hitler salute. Szyk symbolizes their insignificance through their small size as well. This also applies to Mussolini, who was originally drawn to be much larger.”