by Stuyvessant Van Veen
Van Veen’s Peace Conference is a graphic criticism of the carnage and death generated by World War I- and the apparent inability of world or military leaders to control it.
A reference to the Versailles conference, Van Veen’s painting shows arguing politicians, oblivious to both the rivers of blood flooding their meeting hall and the abstracted images of wartime horrors looming over their heads.
This painting contains many symbols that help explain the artist’s response to war. Can you figure out what some of these symbols mean?