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WWI - Propaganda postcard - Kaisers dream bubbles burst
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WWI - Propaganda postcard - Kaisers dream bubbles burst
WWI - Propaganda postcard - The German Kaisers dream bubbles are popping before his eyes. By this point however (late 1914), this rosy picture of futile German successes bursting was still a little premature as the war entered stalemate along the Western front. The representation of Kaiser Wilhelm II is based as a direct spoof on the painting of a boy blowing bubbles ( Bubbles ) by John Everett Millais (painted 1885-86). Date: 1914
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Media ID 11561990
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Belgian Bubble Bubbles Burst Bursting Bursts Conquest Dreams Everett Fail Failure Franc Invasion Kaiser Lampoon Lampooning Millais Pipe Propaganda Spoof Upward Wary Wilhelm Worried
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This poignant propaganda postcard, titled "Kaiser Wilhelm II: Kaiser's Dream Bubbles Burst," depicts a satirical take on German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II during World War I. The image is a deliberate spoof of the famous painting "Bubbles" by John Everett Millais, with Wilhelm II portrayed as a young boy blowing bubbles in the wind. However, instead of carefree enjoyment, the bubbles in this rendition represent the rosy dreams of German successes that were beginning to burst before his eyes. By late 1914, the optimistic vision of easy victories for the German forces along the Western Front was proving to be premature, as the war had entered a stalemate. The image of a worried and wary Kaiser, pipe in hand, gazing upward as his bubbles burst, symbolizes the growing sense of unease and impending failure. The caricatured representation of the German invasion of Belgium and the conquest of England is evident in the ominous clouds gathering in the background. This postcard serves as a powerful reminder of the shifting tides of the war and the eventual disappointment of the German military ambitions. The use of satire and lampooning through the medium of a cartoon or caricature was a popular propaganda tool during this time, intended to undermine the morale of the enemy and bolster the resolve of one's own troops. Despite the dark undertones, the postcard remains a fascinating historical artifact, providing insight into the psychological impact of the war on both sides.
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