Teutonic Mosaic
This piece was constructed with a few things in mind. Firstly, the imposing image of monastic orders of knights (Temple, Hospital, and Teutonic/Order of St. Mary) dating back to the crusades, and how it's often used to subtly or explicitly spread anti-muslim or anti-"degenerate" (LGBT people, social outcasts, marxists, jews, people of color, the typical targets of Fascists) messaging.
Second, how certain motifs of European art (simple northern knotwork, flat 2D composition from medieval art and tapestries with lowered edges to make a relief similar to stone sculptures found in Europe, one depicting Roman legionaries directly inspiring that concept) can reinforce the appeal to Western heritage and culture that fascists often use to appeal to and pray on (mostly young and white) insecure men.
Third, the least subtle, showing a Nazi getting lanced in the face and being driven out of the West. The stars and stripes were a last minute decision derived from anxieties of the rising nationalism in America, growing exponentially since the Bush administration's response to 9/11. This particular nazi's dress was a melding of grey Wehrmacht (not to make implications about conscripts) uniforms with popular European fashion in the 15th century, when full plate armor was developed and the optimal knight born. The cotehardie is grey, with the hood over his shoulders, long hose over his legs and the pointed hat over his head.
Flat colors were shaded again with basic dark washes, and all edges were highlighted with dry brushed white to add even further dimension. Despite my general pride in how this turned out, having never drawn something like this in such a unique style as pre-renaissance artwork, the fact that the horse's caparison does not drape below the belly (as it was never considered, and as it would have in reality) is still disappointing. It would have looked more realistic, and billowing fabric in stone sculptures have always looked very dramatic and pleasing to the eye.
Second, how certain motifs of European art (simple northern knotwork, flat 2D composition from medieval art and tapestries with lowered edges to make a relief similar to stone sculptures found in Europe, one depicting Roman legionaries directly inspiring that concept) can reinforce the appeal to Western heritage and culture that fascists often use to appeal to and pray on (mostly young and white) insecure men.
Third, the least subtle, showing a Nazi getting lanced in the face and being driven out of the West. The stars and stripes were a last minute decision derived from anxieties of the rising nationalism in America, growing exponentially since the Bush administration's response to 9/11. This particular nazi's dress was a melding of grey Wehrmacht (not to make implications about conscripts) uniforms with popular European fashion in the 15th century, when full plate armor was developed and the optimal knight born. The cotehardie is grey, with the hood over his shoulders, long hose over his legs and the pointed hat over his head.
Flat colors were shaded again with basic dark washes, and all edges were highlighted with dry brushed white to add even further dimension. Despite my general pride in how this turned out, having never drawn something like this in such a unique style as pre-renaissance artwork, the fact that the horse's caparison does not drape below the belly (as it was never considered, and as it would have in reality) is still disappointing. It would have looked more realistic, and billowing fabric in stone sculptures have always looked very dramatic and pleasing to the eye.