Verschroeide aarde

Scorched Earth presents a landscape ravaged by war. The title resonates with the deserted land painted in a bright red-orange hue. Constant completed Scorched Earth shortly after he broke with the Cobra group. The artwork diverges from Cobra’s style both in form and content. Stylistically Constant moved away from the naïve drawing resembling children’s work and opted for images bordering on realism. For instance, note the central figure’s outstretched hand with his palm open to the sky. He is most likely a victim of war. In his art dating between 1950 and 1951, Constant delineated an unambiguous space and incorporated a narrative structure. The works he completed during this period have been referred to as his “war paintings.” Perhaps, the artist is reflecting on the 1940 bombardment of Rotterdam in his native country. This painting can be read as Constant’s interpretation of the communist call for Socialist Realism in artistic expression in the post-world war II period.