“Carnival of 1915” ‘Danza Macabra Europea’ – WW1 Propaganda lithographs by Alberto Martini, 1915
420 Brush Strokes in the Art of War
While looking through the stunning work of Alberto Martini’s ‘Danza Macabra Europea’, WW1 series of propaganda lithographs, something kept popping out at me…
The number ‘420’ sprinkled throughout the art…
Like a stoner following a bread trail of history I followed…
“Turnip the Prussians wanted to plant in Paris” ‘Danza Macabra Europea’ – WW1 Propaganda lithographs by Alberto Martini, 1915
“Acrobatism” ‘Danza Macabra Europea’ – WW1 Propaganda lithographs by Alberto Martini, 1915
“The act of the European Dance of the Dead” ‘Danza Macabra Europea’ – WW1 Propaganda lithographs by Alberto Martini, 1915
The bread crumb’s although tasty, lead to little explanation in the art…
Then at last a hint… The all mighty 420 emblazoned on a giant shell being carried…
“The ordeal of the Prussian army” ‘Danza Macabra Europea’ – WW1 Propaganda lithographs by Alberto Martini, 1915
‘The Big Bertha’
Turns out that a mythical massive German mortar called ‘The Krupp Gamma-Gerät’ aka Big Bertha shot a devastatingly huge 420 millimeter round…
These were used by the Germans during WW1 like in the Bombing of Belgrade on October 1915, creating much fear and myth in its destruction ability…
German WW1 – The Krupp Gamma-Gerät 42cm mortar aka ‘Big Bertha’
With the shells weighing between 1,600 and 2,000 pounds and having ranges of up to eight miles, the Big Bertha is a dinosaur of death…
British War Correspondents examining a dud German 420mm shell, September 9, 1917
Not the kind of 420 anyone would want in their garden…
“all the emperors in osteria” ‘Danza Macabra Europea’ – WW1 Propaganda lithographs by Alberto Martini, 1915