Smell-"Stormtroops Advancing Under Gas" by Otto Dix (1924)

Smell

            Otto Dix is an artist with a very graphic vision of war. His art portrays the inhumanity that man inflicts on man (The Art of War). Dix created a collection of art, Der Kreig, that specifically focuses on war. One of his art pieces is “Stormtroops advancing under gas”. It was created as an etching in 1942 that has since created a profound effect on the twentieth century. It is seen as “one of the most powerful indictments of war ever conceived” (The Art of War). Others artists like Pablo Picasso and Robert Motherwell, were influenced by Dix’s vivid visions of war. Observing this etching, feelings of horror result from the destruction man performed in World War II. 

            This work of art portrays how soldiers know that gas will be used in battle, and thus they prepare for the worst by protecting themselves with gas masks (The Art of War). They “smell” something bad about to happen, thus they perceive that if they don’t wear the gas masks, they will end up wounded like their enemies. Other than the fact that we use smell to enjoy, we also use the sense of smell to warn us of our surroundings and interpret what is good or bad for us. Observing the etching, feelings of hatred and evil are aroused by the darkness and grimness. The soldiers are savagely killing people with the gas while their masks protect them. With their protection, the attitude of the soldiers is ruthless in killing everybody as long as they are safe. When they kill, they appear to have no conscience, and it also appears that they are not affected by the horrible deeds they are committing. The emotional experience that smell provides can be very influential in one’s life.