Critique #1: "Watime Misery Self Portrait 1945" Janos Pirk

“Wartime Misery Self Portrait 1945”

       War after war the world moves forward, leaving ongoing challenges left behind. Often times, only those who partake in the war are affected; citizens tune in to the news but make little contribution to the war effort. However, in World War Two everyone in America was affected; factories began producing war materials, families bought less food, and women knit clothing. Job opportunities also increased due to the necessities needed for war. Not only were soldiers fighting in the war; everyday citizens aided in the war effort. At times the war seemed never ending and hopeless. Misery took hold of many individuals during this terrible time of war. In the painting, “Wartime Misery Self Portrait”, Janos Pirk carefully uses simple symbolism, rundown facial expressions, and contrasting juxtaposition to demonstrate the misery and hopelessness that many people feel during a time of war. 

     In the painting, Janos Pirk, portrays a tattered blue shirt at the end of a pole, appearing to look like a flag. Normally, a flag represents a country’s pride. However, in the painting Pirk uses a tattered blue shirt rather than a flag to symbolize a loss of hope. The tears of the shirt show poor conditions; much like the country and its citizens face during a time of war. Citizens pledge to the American flag for hope and what is to come in the future; using a tattered shirt to represent America’s flag shows a loss of hope and a feeling of misery for all of America.

               As one year passes another slowly begins. War is an ongoing process that seems never ending. Janos Pirk portrays himself to be rundown and miserable through his facial expression, as many other Americans feel during a time of war. In the painting, Pirk paints one eye closed as the other is being held open with his fingers to show how exhausted and run down people are from the war. This detail adds affect to the painting and gives it a sense of misery. Citizens are tired and uninterested in the war effort; it has gone on too long and needs to end.

           Strong and hopeful, people often begin war with confidence. However, years into war people often lose hope and become weak, lacking the confidence they once had. In the painting, Pirk uses contrasting juxtaposition by placing a strong solid coffee cup next to weak brittle hands to emphasize how weak the citizens become due to an everlasting war. The comparison between the coffee mug and the hands is very distinct. Placing two opposites next to one another, strong and weak, emphasizes just how weak the citizens became during World War Two.  

         Janos Pirk’s use of simple symbolism, rundown facial expressions, and contrasting juxtaposition completes the painting. In using these techniques Pirk allows the viewer to feel a sense of misery at the sight of the painting. Pirk expresses a strong sorrow-filled emotion felt by many, during a time of war, through his painting, “Wartime Misery Self Portrait 1945”. Not only does the painting apply to those who lived through World War Two, it applies to anyone who is emotionally rundown and miserable because of any war.