Spirit of the Times: Victims

1951, oil/canvas, 44" x 60"

A supermale, juggling atom bombs, imprisons a female who struggles to escape from his bomb-laden, open chest. A slightly pregnant secretary unconcernedly takes atomic dictation and awaits further ravishment from the railroad king rolling merrily down the tracks. Behind the secretary is a vat of tranquilizers, some sunbathers relaxing in the warmth of a world of flames, and an escapist who clings to his mattress trying to get to sleep. Above are other unconcerned victims, each doing the other in, each with a we-can-take-it smile on his face. Everyone, except the sleepless loser, seems well adjusted and perfectly happy.