Enrico Baj, Nixon, silkscreen print and collage, 70x100 cm, 1986

Baj's art always exudes a strong irony, a grotesque effect, with depictions of subjects with an amused look. Beneath this amusing and playful appearance, his works reveal a strong political commitment and criticism of society. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Baj painted subjects such as army generals and military parades. Men who are supposed to embody strength and power, but are instead depicted in an awkward, ironic and almost childlike manner.

We find all these characteristics in this silkscreen print and collage. The theme of this work is the parade. The background is given to us by a collage and the prevalence of brown in a warm tone, on it we see three figures of soldiers on parade, in fact as can be seen the figures are depicted in movement. The figures of the soldiers are also here clearly detached from the background, their uniforms are embellished with simply drawn medals, their eyes wide open and their mouths completely open, as if to hint at a smile.

The three soldiers have different colours for their uniforms: on the left is brownish, in the centre light blue and on the right light green. The complete edition run is 250 copies. Work hand-signed in the lower right and initialled E.A. (Epreuve d'Artiste) in the lower left. The paper is yellowed at the edges.