Art is War

11 Feb Art is War

Listen the analysis of the artwork by the voice of Sofia Hatzoglou

Art is War
Beethoven dedicated his 3rd symphony to Napoleon but took it back (the dedication) when he
proclaimed himself emperor. This was the reason for the sculpture “Art is War”.
The work therefore refers to music and war. The shadow on Napoleon’s side depicts a vulture, which
feeds on corpses, as does war. While the shadow on Beethoven’s side is a happy dog, which
expresses and also gives emotions, just like music. The shadow of the vulture arises from materials
that symbolically have the color of gold (war is made for “money”), while the shadow of the dog
arises from aluminum (music is not made for money but for the expression and creation of feelings).
In the sculpture there is also a frame that separates these two human characters.
The title “Art is war” speaks of the war that artists fight for a better world (and Beethoven, by
removing the dedication, fought a battle).