Alberto Martini
was born in Oderzo (I) on November 24, 1876. He was a painter, engraver,
lithographer, illustrator and graphic designer (ex libris, visiting
cards). He trained in drawing and painting under the guidance of his
father Giorgio, who copied old masters and who was professor of drawing
at the Istituto Technico in Treviso. In 1897, when he was only 21 years,
he exhibited for the first time at the Venice Biennale with the
cycle of drawings "La corte dei miracoli", inspired by
"Notre-Dame de Paris" by Victor Hugo. During 1898 he stayed in
Munich and had the opportunity to work on the magazines Jugend and
Dekorative Kunst. He illustrated numerous books and was very
productive designing postcard series. During World War 1 he designed 5
series of postcards called: "Danza Macabra Europea".
Alberto Martini died in Milan (I), November 8, 1954. |
There are 5 series in the "Danza Macabra Europea" set. Series I, II, III and V each 12 cards and series IV, 6 cards, numbered 1 through 54. All issued by Litografia Longo - Treviso. We will show you series II, numbered 13 through 24. This is one of the most beautiful series we have ever seen !! |
Click
on the pictures to enlarge! |
The interpretive text for the individual cards displayed below is by Jerry M. Kosanovich. |
German Kaiser Wilhelm II is portrayed as a turnip head in this card that explains " The turnip that the Prussians wanted to plant in Paris ". Martini's caricature both highlights the crimes of the Germans as well promising retribution to the Kaiser. On the turnip's leaves are the names of the cities Luvain , Reims and Paris. The Germans gratuitously shelled and then put to the torch Luvain and Reims. There was little compelling military reason in Reims, and not in Luvain. Luvain had, in fact, been abandoned by the Belgian army. The destruction of these cities, considered gems of European medieval art and architecture proved to the Allies and the world, that the German claim to be "cultured" was false. |
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No. 13 |
The names of Luvain and Reims came to be synonomous in Allied anti-German propaganda with "barbarism" and lack of civilization. The promise of retribution, by France, is symbolized by the smiling skeletal "Death" who wears the French revolutionary cap and holds up a guillotine. |
" The
revenge of stepmother Austria " |
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No. 14 |
The imperial symbol of the Empire was the double-headed eagle, and this creature's rump is the face of Austrian Emperor (Kaiser) Franz Josef - taken in total to symbolize the corrupt and evil nature of the Empire and its leadership. |
A student, who like many of his countrymen harbored a deep hatred and distrust of Austria because of that empire's continued control of the regions of Trieste and Trento, which were heavily populated by ethnic Italians and the object of Italian irredentist ambition. In 1882 passions were running high as the Italian government was then contemplating an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Germany. On the occasion of a much publicized visit of Emperor Franz Josef to Trieste in October 1882, Oberdan, equipped with explosives, set out to assassinate the emperor. Stopped at the border, the explosives were discovered and Oberdan was arrested, tried and quickly convicted. Great efforts were made to save him, and petitions asking for clemency were signed by thousands of women. Victor Hugo, the famous French author, appealed personally to the Emperor. However, Austria's long reign over its ethnically diverse empire had not been established on clemency, and Oberdan was promptly hanged. The legend, developed in Italy, is that he was convicted on manufactured evidence, and that the bombs attributed to him were placed in his baggage by Austrian agents. He became immediately a popular hero, and entered into the irredentist folklore. (See also the execution of Cesare Battisti) |
" The last
rescue - vessel " |
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No. 16 |
(The left ear
reads Trento and Trieste, Austrian provinces populated by ethnic
Italians and the right ear reads Serbia - which Austria-Hungary attacked
and upon whose civilian population they performed slaughter.) |
" The
macabre/comical dream of Wilhelm II " |
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No. 18 |
These five men apparently are the leaders of the principal allied nations: (L - R) King George of Britain, King Albert of Belgium(?), Czar Nicholas of Russia, King Victor Emanuel of Italy and President Poincaré of France (in red cap). To the sides we see cataloged some of the cities in which civilians were bombed by Germany - Venezia, London and Paris. |
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