“The Generals” is a renowned sculpture crafted by the artist Marisol Escobar in 1962. This artwork, which exemplifies the Neo-Dada art movement, is fashioned from wood and various mixed media. Currently, the piece is housed at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery located in Buffalo, NY, USA. It stands as a distinct example of mid-20th-century art that merges traditional materials with modern forms and concepts.
The artwork presents a bold and somewhat whimsical interpretation of military leadership. Through the use of wooden elements and mixed media, the sculpture depicts two figures that are suggested to be military generals, as indicated by the title. They are mounted atop a stylized horse, which is cleverly constructed to appear both realistic and abstract. The horse, divided into geometric shapes, has a cylindrical midsection painted with what resembles a uniform, incorporating elements such as stripes that may signify rank or decorations.
The generals’ forms are block-like and rudimentary, with faces and upper bodies emerging from the construction in a simplified, almost child-like manner. Each face is given features through the application of paint, with expressions that are straightforward yet enigmatic, enticing viewers to ponder the underlying message or commentary the artist might be expressing about leadership and militaristic representation.
The work’s strong vertical elevation and the contrast between the naturalistic texture of the wood and the painted surfaces articulate an engaging visual dialogue between the rough and the refined, the playful and the serious. Such juxtapositions align with the Neo-Dada movement’s affinity for challenging established art conventions and embracing the absurd or paradoxical. “The Generals” is a striking piece both in conceptual depth and physical manifestation, representative of Marisol Escobar’s unique artistic voice within the context of 20th-century art.
