Pechstein, one of the most politically engaged artists of the early postwar period, made this poster to advertise the short-lived journal An die Laterne (To the lamp post), which promoted the incumbent Social Democratic Party. Its image of clenched-fisted, flag-carrying protestors—probably communists—marching past a man hanged from a lamppost was a warning against the mob violence and anarchy that threatened to destabilize the fledgling Weimar Republic.
Over the past month or so, we have witnessed several physical attacks on European politicians.
These began in mid-May, when Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico was the subject of an assassination attempt. He was lucky to survive.
