Gottfried Sieben’s Series of Artworks Balkan Atrocities from 1909

“Balkan Atrocities” is a series of twelve engravings made in 1909 by Gottfried Sieben. The series of artworks merges the themes of eroticism with violence and war. Violence and eroticism have long had a connection in the visual arts; think of Pietro da Cortona’s painting “Rape of the Sabine Women” from 1637-38, Bernini’s sculpture “The Rape of Proserpine” from 1621-22, or Delacroix’s painting “The Death of Sardanapalus” from 1827 (fig.1). Delacroix’s painting also ties in nicely with Sieben’s series through the motif of orientalism. Zeus’ conquests of Juno and Leda were also rapes. Sieben’s artworks may appear shocking at first, perhaps even distasteful, but there is actually nothing new about eroticism and violence in the context of art history.

Fig.1  La Mort de Sardanapale (Death of Sardanapalus), 1827 by Eugène Delacroix (wikimedia.org) 

Fig.1a

“Archibald Smith”

Gottfried Sieben (1856-1918) was an Austrian artist who worked under the pseudonym “Archibald Smith”. The reason for this English choice of pen-name is unknown, but intriguing. Perhaps he thought his art would sell better if it had the air of Englishness about it. Or perhaps he thought it implied neutrality.

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Brutal Ottoman Soldiers

The early years of the twentieth century were a volatile time politically, marked by the looming threat of war, the shifting political alliances and the complex issues of nationalism and ethnic tension. The tensions were particularly obvious in the Balkans. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1878, but the Bosnia Vilayet officially remained part of the Ottoman Empire. Decades later, in 1908, Austro-Hungary annexed that area and thus provoked the Bosnian Crisis. Sieben’s series was created in 1909, just a year after the Austro-Hungarian-Ottoman tensions took place. His artworks reflect the Austro-Hungarian sentiment against the Ottoman Empire and the contrast between the good, civilised Christian world and the mad, brutal Ottoman soldiers is masterfully captured in these engravings.

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Powerful Eroticism

The Balkan Wars (1912-1913) which occurred after Sieben’s series were only a continuation of the existing conflicts. Sieben doesn’t present us with the usual glorified depiction of the war with the heroic moments, but the side that everyone knows exists but doesn’t want to witness; the brutality, the rape, the massacres, the suffering of the civilians, the human rights abuses – and all of that is infused with powerful eroticism. We may even see these engravings as the eroticised Austro-Hungarian propaganda against the Ottoman Empire.

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In Premium more on the Expressionist influence in Sieben’s artworks, detailed descriptions of some of the unsettling designs, all the remaining pics from the series, and more...!

Click HERE for disquieting scenes of forced lovemaking in shunga art

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