TARPTAUTINIS BENDROJO UGDYMO MOKYKLŲ 9–10 (I–II g.) KLASIŲ MOKINIŲ INTEGRUOTAS ISTORIJOS, ANGLŲ K. IR DAILĖS KONKURSAS
„IŠLAISVINK PRAEITĮ KŪRYBIŠKAI“
Tikslas – atskleisti karikatūrų reikšmę istorijos pažinimui, įvykių interpretacijai, asmenybių ir jų nuveiktų darbų vertinimui. Formuoti mokinių istorijos įvairiapusišką pažinimą, istorinių karikatūrų suvokimą bei jų pateikimo bei nagrinėjimo struktūrą.
INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATED HISTORY, ENGLISH AND ART COMPETITION FOR PUPILS OF GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS GRADES 9–10 (1st – 2nd gymnasium grades)
"LIBERATE THE PAST CREATIVELY"
Aim – to show the significance of the caricatures for the knowledge of history, the interpretation of events, and the evaluation of personalities and their achievements. To develop students' diverse knowledge of history, understanding of historical caricatures and the structure of their presentation and analysis.
2024
2025
2025 m. tarptautinio bendrojo ugdymo mokyklų 9-10 (I-II g.) klasių mokinių integruoto istorijos, anglų kalbos ir dailės konkurso „Išlaisvink praeitį kūrybiškai“ nugalėtojais tapo:
I Vieta:
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Aleksandra Sabeva, High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences „Akademik Nikola Obreshkov“, II g. kl., karikatūra „The Execution of Louis XVI – The End of an Era“
- Andrea Murauskaitė, Klaipėdos „Aukuro“ gimnazija, II g. kl., karikatūra „King Mindaugas and Lithuanian dukes“
- Aaron John A. Corpuz, Kauno Jono Jablonskio gimnazija, I g. kl., karikatūra „Napoleon’s storm of Liberty and Nationalism“
- Gabrielius Reys, Kauno Jono Jablonskio gimnazija, II g. kl., karikatūra „Isn‘t this stone a bit too heavy?“
- Joris Šalvaitis, Kauno Jono Jablonskio gimnazija, I g. kl., karikatūra „Napoleons footprints in Europe“
- Viltė Baršytė, Klaipėdos Vydūno gimnazija, I g. kl., karikatūra „The cart of freedom through the ruin of serfdom“
II Vieta:
- Danaia Stoianova, Profiled High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics “Acad. Nikola Obreshkov” - Burgas, I g. kl., karikatūra „The World War I – A Game of Chess“
- Eliza Eimontė, KTU inžinerinis licėjus, II g. kl., karikatūra „Don’t bite off more than you can chew“
- Kamilė Vaišvilaitė, Klaipėdos „Aukuro“ gimnazija, II g. kl., karikatūra „One Big Happy Family“
- Mėta Žebelytė, Kauno Jono Jablonskio gimnazija, II g. kl., karikatūra „A Toast to Temporary Friendship“
III Vieta:
- Denitsa Koleva, High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences „Akademik Nikola Obreshkov“, Burgas, Bulgaria, I g. kl., karikatūra „A long-yearned meal“
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Viltė Švedaitė, Kauno Jono Jablonskio gimnazija, I g. kl., karikatūra „Uprasing: Collectable edotion“
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Rusnė Kasperavičiūtė, Kauno Maironio universitetinė gimnazija, II g. kl., karikatūra „The space race“
IV Vieta:
- Aneliya Pencheva, High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences „Akademik Nikola Obreshkov“, Burgas, Bulgaria, I g. kl., karikatūra „From Hot to Cold War“
- Elzė Vainoriūtė, Klaipėdos Vydūno gimnazija, II g. kl., karikatūra „The Sun Never Sets on The British Empire“
Sveikiname laimėtojus. Kviečiame dar kartą pasigrožėti jų darbais ir linkime kūrybinės sėkmės.
Mokytojos Aušra Budrienė, Jurgita Žulpienė, Jolita Grabliauskaitė ir Kęstutis Budrevičius.
| Author's name surname, grade | Aaron John A. Corpuz, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Napoleon’s storm of Liberty and Nationalism |
| The characters depicted | Is to showcase Napoleon’s ideology of making France as the dominant country in Europe during his era and to spread liberal and nationalistic ideas throughout Europe through his influence. |
| The main idea of the caricature | Is to showcase Napoleon’s ideology of making France as the dominant country in Europe during his era and to spread liberal and nationalistic ideas throughout Europe through his influence. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte of the French Empire. Czar Alexander I of the Russian Empire. King Frederik William III of Kingdom of Prussia. Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire. King George III of Great Britain. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The French Flag represents the nationalism and unification of France. The half lion and half-crown represent Napoleon’s 2 roles in the French empire, acting as both the Emperor and Military leader/tactician. The sword represents Napoleon’s aggressive military conquests and battles. The Code Civil Des Fancais represents his reforms in civil equality, religious toleration, equality of inheritance, and trial by Jury. The Legion of Honour badge represents Napoleon’s reforms such as the Meritocracy, which allows everyone to have equal opportunities in his empire. The clouds represent how Nationalistic and Liberal ideas continue to exist and spread and cannot be suppressed. The 4 key figures with the sash represent the countries that fought Napoleon and tried to suppress the ideas he was trying to spread. The globe- represents that the ideas he was trying to spread were able to reach the whole world and make a difference in the long-term-Poland, Saxony, and Italy represent the main countries that Napoleon was able to influence in Europe during his era. |
| Performance technique | Graphics, colored pencils, black ink. Although caricatures must be portrayed typically with concise exaggeration and meaning, I intentionally drew a lot of symbols since I want to challenge traditional boundaries of caricatures. This artistic choice is also meant to encourage easier and deeper understanding of causes and/or effects about a specific historical discussion. Napoleon and the lion’s expression in this caricature aims to emphasize ambition and power. Only Napoleon’s side had color since I want to emphasize his importance and presence in this caricature. Cartoon depiction of the 4 leaders of Prussia, Russia, Great Britain, and Austria to show that none of them were able to defeat Napoleon individually. Shadowing technique is used in this caricature since I want to portray tragedies such as cruelty, destruction, and chaos that happened in this timeline. |
| Historical context | Napoleon Bonaparte was the emperor of France in the 19th century. He sought to make France a dominant European power through military conquests and reforms. At the same time, his legacy was the spread of nationalism and liberty, which were the outcome of the period of the French Revolution (1789-1799), during which he also played a key role. He also initiated a huge amount of domestic changes, as meritocracy or Civil code, which were spread across Europe during the period of Napoleonic wars (1799-1815). Because of the goal of French dominance, he also had to fight other leading European countries as Prussia, Russia, Great Britain, and Austria. |
| Author's name surname, grade | ABIGAILĖ PADGURSKYTĖ, I G,15 YEARS |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNŲ LAURYNO IVINSKIO GIMNAZIJA, KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| Title of the caricature | THE GREAT FRENCH REVOLUTION THAT CHANGED EUROPE |
| The main idea of the caricature | ON THE LEFT, A WOMAN WITH A FRENCH FLAG AND CAP, NEXT TO NAPOLEON, ON THE RIGHT, KING LOUIS XVI IS OVERTHROWN, NEXT TO A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NOBILITY. |
| The symbols and their meaning | A WOMAN'S HAT – A SYMBOL OF THE GREAT FRENCH REVOLUTION, A FORK – AND HER OUTFIT INDICATE THAT SHE IS IN A SUITCASE, NEXT TO NAPOLEON IN THE GENERAL'S UNIFORM, NEXT TO HIM A CROWN INDICATES THAT HE IS A KING, THE CLOTHING OF A MAN NEXT TO HIM AND A WIG INDICATE THAT HE BELONGS TO THE NOBILITY. |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, WATERCOLOR |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the beginning of the period of the Great French Revolution and the reign of Napoleon at the end of the eighteenth century. |
| Author's name surname, grade | ADRIANA DUBICKAITĖ, IG, 15 YEARS |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| Title of the caricature | WHAT IS HIDING EUROPE? |
| The main idea of the caricature | THE HAT SYMBOLIZES NAPOLEON, WHO SOUGHT TO CONQUER EUROPE, THE RIFLE SYMBOLIZES WAR |
| The symbols and their meaning | THE HAT SYMBOLIZES NAPOLEON, WHO SOUGHT TO CONQUER EUROPE, THE RIFLE SYMBOLIZES WAR |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the Napoleonic era , his goal to conquer Europe in the first half of the nineteenth century. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Ainis Pranys, 15, 1 Pre-IB |
| Educational institution | Kauno jėzuitų gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Du Pain! |
| The main idea of the caricature | The French Revolution. Marie Antoinette's selfish and irrational response to the nation's starvation |
| The characters depicted | Marie Antoinette, The people of French |
| The symbols and their meaning | Marie Antoinette's mimicking smile is a casual reaction to the protests |
| Performance technique | Coloring pencils, graphical pen |
| Historical context | In October 1789, during the French Revolution, hungry citizens protested outside the Palace of Versailles, and Queen Marie Antoinette said supposedly casually: "Let them eat cakes!" |
| Author's name surname, grade | AKVILĖ RUDNICKAITĖ, IG, 15 YEARS |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| The main idea of the caricature | WHICH PATH TO CHOOSE? |
| The symbols and their meaning | THE FORKED PATH SYMBOLIZES CHOICE. A PERSON ON THE ROAD SAYS: "WHAT SHOULD I CHOOSE?", A PERSON ON THE LEFT – "FREEDOM AND JUSTICE", A PERSON STANDING UPRIGHT – "LET'S KEEP OUR VALUES", A PERSON ON THE RIGHT – "ALL FOR ALL". |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the formation of political theories in the nineteenth century. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Aleksandra Sabeva, 16 years old, 9 grade |
| Educational institution | High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Akademik Nikola Obreshkov", Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Title of the caricature | The Execution of Louis XVI – The End of an Era |
| The main idea of the caricature | The symbolic fall of absolute monarchy in France and the birth of the Republic through the execution of Louis XVI |
| The characters depicted | Louis XVI, Louis XIV, Louis XV, the crowd of citizens |
| The symbols and their meaning | Guillotine – revolutionary justice; fallen crown and mantle – end of monarchy; gray sky – somber mood; ghosts of kings – collapse of old order |
| Performance technique | CGraphic drawing, hand-drawn |
| Historical context | On 21 January 1793, Louis XVI, the last representative of the absolute monarchy in France, was executed by guillotine at the Place de la Révolution. This event marked the end of the monarchy and the transition to a republic. The French Revolution began in 1789 as a reaction to absolutism, established by Louis XIV and continued by Louis XV. Under Louis XVI, France faced a severe economic, social, and political crisis. Hunger, high taxes, and lack of civil rights led to mass protests and a fight for liberty, equality, and justice. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Algimantas Leikus, 15 years old, class 9D |
| Educational institution | VDU "Rasos" gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | The equal sides of France and Russia |
| The main idea of the caricature | The main idea is that Napoleon and Mikhail were equal in war and so no side won |
| The characters depicted | People that are represented-Napoleon The First and Mikhail Kutuzov |
| The symbols and their meaning | Mirror is meant to symbolize the similarities in power between Napoleon and Mikhail |
| Performance technique | Performance technique grey pencil |
| Historical context | Istorical context - The istorical context for this caricature is that even with the writing of the Peace of Tilsit the relations between France and Russia were still poor and it led into the Battle of Moscow |
| Author's name surname, grade | Andrea Murauskaitė, 17, IIA |
| Educational institution | Klaipėdos „Aukuro“ gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Welcome to 13th century Lithuania – chaos, crowns and conversions! |
| The main idea of the caricature | The cartoon highlights the tension between internal power struggles and external pressures during King Mindaugas’s coronation in 1253. |
| The characters depicted | King Mindaugas and Lithuanian dukes |
| The symbols and their meaning | Oversized crown - the burden and uncertainty of newfound power. Arguing dukes – lack of unity and domestic power struggles. Cross and arrow on the map – western religious and political influence approaching Lithuania. Sword in Mindaugas’s hands – authority gained but held cautiously and without full confidence. |
| Performance technique | Graphic art |
| Historical context | Mindaugas became the first and only king in Lithuania’s history in 1253. This event is considered one of the most critical moments in the development of Lithuanian statehood. It showed that Lithuania could be recognized by the Western world as an equal Christian state. Mindaugas’s coronation did not take place during a peaceful time. Many dukes in the country disagreed with his decisions. Fighting and lack of trust made it hard for Mindaugas to rule the whole country. In addition, he had to negotiate with the Livonian Order and accepted baptism, hoping to protect Lithuania from external threats. For this reason, some historians believe that his decisions were more diplomatic than sincere. Mindaugas’s coronation marked the first significant attempt to unite Lithuania and secure its place among the states of Europe. Although he was later assassinated and the kingdom collapsed, his actions left a lasting impact on the development of our nation. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Andželika Vaitiekūnaitė, age 16, Form II |
| Educational institution | Kaunas district Babtai gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Are We Friends or Enemies? |
| The main idea of the caricature | Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are not only destroying others but also manipulating each other, as if each were the other’s puppet. This reflects their deceitful relationship – initial cooperation, followed by betrayal and mutual conflict |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin |
| The symbols and their meaning | Scene: The entire world – the stage for their manipulations. Swastika in the centre: symbolizes the shared forces that unite and destroy. Hitler and Stalin controlling each other’s puppets: while they appear to be cooperating, they are manipulating one another. Barbed wire: fake friendship, pain. Puppet’s theatre: friendship illusion. Puppets: manipulating people for personal satisfaction and desires. |
| Performance technique | Graphic (black and white linear drawing technique) |
| Historical context | I, Adolf Hitler, want to create a Greater Germany. In my country, there will be no Jews, no disabled people and no others who are considered inferior. I am the Fuhrer – all power is concentrated in my hands. I control art, culture and I rely on religion. God is with me. Germany must start a war to unite the lands where Germans live. We began the persecution of Jews, mass deportations, and systematic extermination in concentration camps. I, Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, will deceive you, I will sign agreements that I will not fulfill. My goal is to conquer Europe and spread communism across the world , but for now, let us be friends and divide Europe. We are very similar: we kill people, create concentration camps and enjoy ruling and starting wars. We both like it when others fear us – their fear helps us maintain |
| Author's name surname, grade | Aneliya Pencheva, 16 years, 9 grade |
| Educational institution | High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Akademik Nikola Obreshkov", Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Title of the caricature | From Hot to Cold War |
| The main idea of the caricature | To represent the Cold War as a symbolic duel between the USA and the USSR through arm wrestling, a map of divided Berlin, and weapons |
| The characters depicted | Uncle Sam (USA) and the Soviet leader (Stalin) symbolize the opposing ideologies of capitalism and communism |
| The symbols and their meaning | The table symbolizes the arena of the conflict. On it is depicted the map of Berlin – the division of the world. The missiles symbolize the arms race. The clothing of the two human figures reflects their national identity |
| Performance technique | A hand-drawn caricature using symbolism |
| Historical context | After the end of World War II in 1945, the world was divided between two major blocs – the capitalist bloc, led by the United States, and the communist bloc, led by the Soviet Union. This marked the beginning of a long period of geopolitical tension known as the Cold War (1947–1991). Although there was no direct military clash between the two superpowers, the conflict manifested through an arms race, space race, propaganda, espionage, and numerous proxy wars around the globe. The division of Berlin and the construction of the Berlin Wall became powerful symbols of this global confrontation |
| Author's name surname, grade | ARMANDAS LIUNAS, IIG, 16 YEARS |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| Title of the caricature | CHESS GAME |
| The characters depicted | ON THE LEFT, GERMANY AND ITS ALLIES ARE DEPICTED, ON THE RIGHT THE SOVIET UNION |
| The symbols and their meaning | THE CHESSBOARD DEPICTS A GAME PLAYED BY COUNTRIES SEEKING WAR. WAR IS SYMBOLIZED BY CHESS – TANKS |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the international situation in the 1930s |
| Author's name surname, grade | Artem Lahutov 16 years old, 2nd grade |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | The Cuban Missle Crises |
| The main idea of the caricature | Confrontation between the USSR and the USA in the Cold War |
| The characters depicted | Cuba , the USA, the USSR |
| The symbols and their meaning | The USA is on the left with cities like New York, Washington, and Orlando etc. Cuba is below, close to the US. It has missiles marked “the USSR”— these are Soviet nuclear missiles. The little figure with a USSR flag on the right represents the Soviet Union, which placed the missiles in Cuba. The map shows how close the missiles were to the USA ,creating a big danger of nuclear war |
| Performance technique | Pencil, colored pencils,black pen |
| Historical context | The Cuban Missle crisis (1962) was a Cold War standooff between the USA and USSR over Soviet nuclear missles in Cuba , bringing the world close to nuclear war |
| Author's name surname, grade | Augustas Šolis, 16, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Klaipeda Vydunas Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The Illusion of Power |
| The main idea of the caricature | The political situation at the time was complex: although the war was nearing its end, Japan had not yet surrendered. The United States aimed to bring the conflict to a swift conclusion, to demonstrate its power, and to send a clear signal to the Soviet Union, which was emerging as a potential geopolitical rival. The use of atomic bombs was not just a military action but also a political move meant to showcase America’s technological superiority and global influence |
| The characters depicted | The cartoon, with irony, portrays the president of the U.S. Harry S. Truman as an arrogant leader playfully wielding destructive power, as if it were merely a tool to strengthen his country’s dominance. In this context, the decision is criticized for its coldness, disregard for human suffering, and the danger of war being used as a political instrument |
| The symbols and their meaning | The symbols in the cartoon, such as the map of Japan, the atomic pendant, and thoughts about “coolness” might be seen as a simple depiction of wartime action. However, they convey a deeper question about responsibility and the use of power |
| Performance technique | Graphic arts |
| Historical context | The cartoon responds to the events of August 1945, when the U.S. President Harry S. Truman made the decision to drop two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This decision marked the end of World War II in the Pacific Theater, but also sparked intense debates about its morality, consequences, and actual necessity |
| Author's name surname, grade | Augustė Bakutytė, 15 metų, 9 klasė |
| Educational institution | Šiaulių Didždvario gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Setting Napoleon's glory |
| The main idea of the caricature | Napoleon's empire and glory came to an end after the unsuccessful campaign in Russia. Napoleon's ambitions turned into failure, defeat, and the collapse of the empire. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon, Napoleon's soldiers |
| The symbols and their meaning | The double-headed eagle symbolizes the Russian Empire. The spires of St. Basil's Cathedral in flames symbolize burning Moscow. The dead white dove carried by the double-headed eagle symbolizes Napoleon's failed attempt to bring peace through war, which brought destruction. It represents Napoleon's defeat and downfall. Napoleon's hat on the snowman symbolizes Napoleon. The setting sun symbolizes the end of Napoleon's glory and the beginning of the collapse of his empire. The snowmen represent Napoleon's frozen soldiers after the battle, his lost army |
| Performance technique | Mixed media technique: watercolors, colored pencils, and ink |
| Historical context | Napoleon's 1812 campaign in Russia ended in disaster. After the Battle of Borodino, he aimed to capture Moscow, but found it set on fire. Having lost much of his army, he was forced to retreat |
| Author's name surname, grade | AUGUSTĖ BUDRECKYTĖ, IG, 15 YEARS |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNŲ LAURYNO IVINSKIO GIMNAZIJA, KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| Title of the caricature | THE END OF THE GREAT WAR |
| The characters depicted | THE PERSONS STANDING ON THE LEFT SIDE ARE ANTANTE, ON THE RIGHT ARE THE TRIADS OF THE UNIONS, NEXT TO THE SOULS OF THE DEAD PEOPLE |
| The symbols and their meaning | THE ARMISTICE TREATY SYMBOLIZES THE END OF WORLD WAR I, THE UNIFORMS OF THE STANDING PERSONS SYMBOLIZE THE STATES TO WHICH THEY BELONG, THE MAN STANDING ON THE RIGHT HOLDS A CALENDAR WITH THE INSCRIPTION NOVEMBER 11 – IT IS THE DAY OF THE ARMISTICE |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the end of World War I, the signing of the Armistice of Compiègne, November 11, 1918 |
| Author's name surname, grade | AUSTĖ ŽILAITYTĖ, 15 years old, I B |
| Educational institution | Jurbarkas Antanas Giedraitis-Giedrius gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Cold War Game |
| The main idea of the caricature | Political competition leads to international conflicts between countries and devastates the lives of innocent people |
| The characters depicted | Leaders of the US and USSR during the Cold War. Nikita Khrushchev and John F. Kennedy, to be more specific |
| The symbols and their meaning | Border - separation of countries; Flags of the parties - denote the conflicting parties; Bombs- weaponization; Liquor bottles - the way of life of the leaders of the socialist system; Children's rifle - intimidation; Fork - aggression, cruelty; The car - the wealth of the capitalist system |
| Performance technique | Graphic pens, markers |
| Historical context | During the Cold War, one of the main sources of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was the division of Germany and its capital Berlin |
| Author's name surname, grade | Austėja Meilutytė, 15 years old, 9 grade |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus University "Rasos" gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Welcome to Borodino Napoleon's |
| The main idea of the caricature | Expectation of triumph turns to despair as he faces the empty, burning ruins of Moscow |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte |
| The symbols and their meaning | The fire - symbolizes destruction, it consumes the city, and makes a point of no return. Being the only coloured element emphasizes the violent consequences. The destroyed church - as a place of faith and sanctuary, its destruction reflects the despair and spiritual collapse brought by war. The bear - symbolizes Russia, often used as a national personification. The vulture - represents death, silently witnessing the aftermath of destruction, it does not cause the ruin but thrives in its presence, symbolizing the inevitable toll of war |
| Performance technique | Black gel pen, coloured pencils |
| Historical context | Napoleon arrives at a burning Moscow, expecting victory. Instead, he finds emptiness and fire - a symbol of Russian resistance and the start of his downfall |
| Author's name surname, grade | Aušrinė Masiulionytė, 10th grade. |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Friend turned Foe |
| The main idea of the caricature | To show how the Soviet Union responded to Churchills “Iron Curtain” speech 1946 |
| The characters depicted | Joseph Stalin,Winston Churchil |
| The symbols and their meaning | Wall (Iron curtent) - the division between East and West Europe; Democracy and communism Chain - Limited emigration; British flag - Churchills nationality; Stalin - Soviet leader 1929-1953; Churchill - British Prime Minister 1940-1945; Swastika - Comparing the British to Nazi Germany |
| Performance technique | Graphics, colored pencils, black ink |
| Historical context | After WWII the US and USSR emerged as the two global superpowers. Tensions rose over how to rebuild Europe-especially Germany and Eastern Europe. The Soviets which were then led by Stalin, had begun tightening control over Eastern European countries. Europe split into two parts: the West and East due to the Soviet expansion which raised concern amongst Western allies such as the US and UK. On March 5, 1946, in Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, USA Churchill delivered a speech “The Sinews of Peace”. During it he warned the people about: the division of Europe, the threat of communism, Anglo-American unity to resist Soviet aggression. On March 14, 1946, Stalin responded to by clamming that the statements were an act of war and racist and promoting Anglo-American world domination. He also argued that the Soviet Union was only protecting its borders. Since before the speech the USSR had close relations with Churchill this was seen as an act of betrayal which is why Stalin responded in such manner. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Bernardas Petrulionis, grade 10 |
| Educational institution | Engineering Lyceum of Vilnius Gediminas technical university |
| Title of the caricature | The Peacekeeper Who Blinked |
| The main idea of the caricature | This caricature highlights the League of Nations’ inability and failure to maintain global peace and order during World War II. |
| The characters depicted | The entire organisation of the League of Nations is portrayed as one nobleman who is covering his eyes faced with the planet full of wars. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The key symbol is the Earth covered in explosions symbolising different conflicts during World War II. Another symbol is the logo of the League of Nations that stands for political cooperation and peace among nations. |
| Performance technique | Coloured pencils, alcohol-based markers |
| Historical context | The League of Nations, formed after WWI to prevent future conflicts, failed to stop aggression by Axis powers. Its weakness helped lead to WWII thus exposing its lack of authority. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Damian Jaroš, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Vilnius Juzefo Ignacijaus Krashevsky‘s Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Bye bye Adolf |
| The main idea of the caricature | The main idea of the cartoon is Adolf Hitler's escape from Berlin and the end of II World War |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler – Führer of Germany and the dictator of Nazi Germany. |
| The symbols and their meaning | A burning Brandenburg Gate stands between two tanks - one flying the American flag, the other the Soviet flag. Below, Hitler is shown fleeing with a suitcase in one hand and a Nazi flag in the other, while a windmill blows air toward him, adding to the chaos. |
| Performance technique | Pencil painting |
| Historical context | During World War II, the Allies (USA, Britain, USSR) joined forces against Hitler. With the Allies attacking from the west and the Soviets from the east, Germany's situation became hopeless. Hitler realised that defeat was inevitable. Although he remained in a bunker in Berlin until his death on 30 April 1945, the thought of escaping from the besieged city must have been on his mind, especially in view of Germany's collapsing situation and the Allied advance. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Danaia Stoianova, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Profiled High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics ‘Acad. Nikola Obreshkov’ - Burgas |
| Title of the caricature | The World War I – A Game of Chess |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature compares World War I to a strategic chess game between the two alliances, showing how each nation made political and military moves for power and survival. |
| The characters depicted | German soldier (dark green uniform), French soldier (blue uniform), the countries in each alliance (represented by pawns on the board) |
| The symbols and their meaning | Chessboard – battlefield; German queen – Germany’s military power; French king – France’s role in the Great War; Pawns in flag colors – nations involved in the war; Italy as a pawn – shifting alliance for political gain |
| Performance technique | Hand-drawn caricature with color pencils |
| Historical context | World War I (1914–1918), fought between Central Powers and Entente. Italy switched sides in 1915. The war ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. World War I was one of the largest and most destructive conflicts in history. It began in 1914 and lasted until 1918, fought between two major military alliances: the Central Powers, led by Germany and including Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire, and the Entente-France, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia, and Romania. The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914. Germany, with its strategic alliances, attacked France and Russia, but Great Britain and France managed to defend their territories, and the United States entered the conflict in 1917, supporting the Entente. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which imposed harsh conditions on Germany. In the caricature, the two alliances are depicted as playing chess. The German soldier, in dark green, represents Germany, with the German pawn on the chessboard turned queen, symbolizing its initial ambitions. The French soldier, dressed in blue, holds the French king, showing France’s role as the main defender. Italy, initially part of the Central Powers, switched to the Entente in 1915, represented as a pawn in the middle of the board, reflecting its shifting alliances. The colored pawns represent the flags of each country involved in the war and in each alliance. Thus, World War I was not just a chess game between great powers, but a painful story of exhaustion, alliances, and betrayals that changed the world order forever. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Danielius Vitkauskas, 15m, Ic |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Juozas Grušas Art Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | World War II |
| The main idea of the caricature | Millions of deaths are just statistics |
| The characters depicted | Stalin |
| The symbols and their meaning | Portrait, humanity and text |
| Performance technique | Marker |
| Historical context | Under the leadership of J. Stalin, the USSR signed a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany on 23 August 1939 (the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact), a friendship and border treaty on 28 September 1939, and with the outbreak of World War II on 17 September 1939, it attacked Poland and 30 November 1940, and occupied and annexed the Baltic states. From 1941 to 1945, J. Stalin led the USSR during the war with Germany. After the war, he continued to lead the USSR. After its troops occupied many countries in Central and Eastern Europe, he imposed Soviet-style communism on them, which led to the Cold War. During and after World War II, repression continued: some peoples were deported, a significant portion of the population of countries annexed by the USSR (including Lithuania), and many people were imprisoned (according to N. Verts, about 32 million people were repressed during the reign of J. Stalin, according to other authors - significantly more). |
| Author's name surname, grade | DEIMANTAS POŠKUS, GRADE 9 |
| Educational institution | KUŽIAI SCHOOL OF ŠIAULIAI DISTRICT |
| Title of the caricature | DREAMS OF NAPOLEON |
| The main idea of the caricature | SMALL PERSON WITH GREAT PLANS |
| The characters depicted | NAPOLEON, MAP, HAT, WEAPON (SWORD) |
| The symbols and their meaning | NAPOLEON IS LOOKING AT A MAP AND MAKING HIS PLANS OF CONQUERING EUROPE |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The caricature depicts the period of Napoleon's rule in France, the late 18th century and early 19th century. |
| Author's name surname, grade | DEIMANTĖ BRUŽAITĖ, IIG |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| Title of the caricature | RACE IN SPACE |
| The characters depicted | THE SOVIET UNION (SPUTNIK) AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (APOLLO) |
| The symbols and their meaning | THE ROCKET RACE, THE FINISH - SYMBOLIZES THE ARMS RACE IN SPACE. |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, WATERCOLOR |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the space race that took place between the USSR and the United States during the Cold War period (1957-1969). Both countries competed for technological and political superiority in the field of space. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Denitsa Koleva, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Akademik Nikola Obreshkov", Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Title of the caricature | A long-yearned meal |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature represents the influence of the reforms of the Popular Front on different subgroups of society after the program has been selected |
| The characters depicted | Andre Leon Blum-the first socialist prime minister of France. He led the Popular Front government from 1936 to 1937 |
| The symbols and their meaning | Andre Leon Blum is shown as a cook who is preparing a “dish of reforms” on a stove, which carries the label “Popular Front”. This shows how the reforms have been introduced by the Popular Front headed by Leon Blum. There is a red star on his hat – a symbol of communism and socialism. The reforms, painted in the colors of France’s flag, include paid leave, trade union rights, a 40 hour workweek and hope. The men in blue, waiting beside the cook, represent the blue-collar workers, who are waiting to get their long-yearned meal. They are holding plates with labels “Freedom, equality, fraternity” – the motto of the French Republic and two of them are holding a hammer, a wrench and a plate with a combined label – symbols of hard work. The man in the back embodies the image of the dissatisfied bourgeoisie holding a jar that says “unemployment”, meaning that the Popular Front has been able to deal with the unemployment issue. On his right side on the wall is written the slogan the Popular Front won the elections with. Above the slogan is a portrait of Marianne – the symbol of the French core values and the spirit of freedom and reason. On the shelf there is a rooster, painted in the colors of the French flag, looking out the window to the rising sun behind the factory – it represents hope through knowledge and hard work. In front of the factory, there are two blue-collar workers dancing around with signs “reduced work time” and “increased salary”. They show the fulfillment of the working class |
| Performance technique | Hand-drawn caricature. The used tools are colored pencils and ink, used to outline the objects |
| Historical context | In the 1930s, there is a global economic crisis as a consequence of World War 1. The governments in France keep changing extremely fast (8 governments for the period of 1929-1932) and there are financial scandals. Therefore, the far-right grows stronger and more aggressive. As a result, the left-wing parties unite and form the Popular Front, led by Andre Leon Blum, which consists of socialists, radicals and the French Communist Party. In 1936 the program is accepted |
| Author's name surname, grade | Eimantas Genys, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Russians running from Napaleon |
| The main idea of the caricature | To show how everyone (even Russia) was afraid of Napoleon |
| The characters depicted | French leader – Napoleon, Russian leader – Alexander I |
| The symbols and their meaning | The gun behind Napoleon symbolizes the defeat of the countries Napoleon won against. The fire behind Alexander I symbolizes the time he lit Russian territory on fire, so the French army doesn’t go further into Russia |
| Performance technique | Pencil |
| Historical context | When Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia in 1812 with more than 600,000 soldiers, the Russians stayed out of direct combat. They retreated and destroyed everything in their path, including crops, food supplies, and even entire towns, using a scorched earth tactic instead. Napoleon's army ran out of resources and shelter as he advanced. Upon arriving in Moscow, he discovered it largely deserted and ablaze, providing neither solace nor triumph. Napoleon's troops were soon stranded by the harsh Russian winter after being forced to wait without supplies. The French army was decimated by malnutrition, illness, and extreme cold. Russian forces attacked them continuously while they were on the run. Approximately 100,000 soldiers made it through the campaign. A significant turning point in the Napoleonic Wars, this audacious and brutal strategy signaled the start of |
| Author's name surname, grade | Elena Sabaliauskaitė, 9 |
| Educational institution | Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Slicing Europe |
| The main idea of the caricature | Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are cutting a cake into pieces just like they cut up Eastern Europe during the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin |
| The symbols and their meaning | The cake symbolizes Eastern Europe which got sliced and split up during the the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact |
| Performance technique | Watercolor and colored pencils |
| Historical context | In 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and secretly split Eastern Europe |
| Author's name surname, grade | Elija Daraškaitė, 9 grade. |
| Educational institution | VDU “ Rasos” gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | A war in which only death won |
| The main idea of the caricature | Too many people died in meaningless war that no one really won |
| The characters depicted | Nicholas II , Wilhelm II |
| The symbols and their meaning | Red poppies – soldiers that died in Word war I, Skelet holding Europe - soldiers and civils who died |
| Performance technique | Drawing |
| Historical context | WWI was meant to be quick, but it dragged on for 4 years with millions of deaths and no real resolution |
| Author's name surname, grade | Elija Rudmine, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Dangerous balance |
| The main idea of the caricature | Napoleon is trying to balance between imperial glory and his greatest defeat during the Russian campaign |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte walking on a tightrope and balancing his crown and his biggest lost |
| The symbols and their meaning | Tightrope: symbolizes how Napolion tries to bance his crown and his loses. Golden laurel wreath (crown): symbolizes Napoleon's glory and power. Eagle holding a heart (battle loss): represents the cost of his defeat in Russia – his biggest lost Paris and Moscow: indicate the journey and turning point of his power |
| Performance technique | Graphics, colored pencils, black ink |
| Historical context | In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia to expand his empire, but the harsh winter and resistance caused a major defeat and marked his empire’s decline |
| Author's name surname, grade | Eliza Eimontė, 16 years old, 10th grade. |
| Educational institution | Kaunas University of Technology Engineering Lyceum. |
| Title of the caricature | Don’t bite off more than you can chew. |
| The main idea of the caricature | Adolf Hitler wanted to rule the world, but the goal was bigger than he could achieve, because of the strength and resilience of the Allies. |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The fallen teeth - show that his ambitions for global domination collapsed. The big world - shows that his goal was bigger than he could achieve. The bib - shows his ambitions and aspirations. The blood - shows the lives lost due to his ambitions. |
| Performance technique | Drawn with graphite pencils and colored pencils. |
| Historical context | Adolf Hitler aimed to establish a vast German empire that would dominate Europe and, eventually, the world. Rooted in Nazi ideology, his vision involved expanding eastward for "Lebensraum," destroying communism, and creating a racially "pure" Aryan state. Hitler sought to dismantle the post-World War I order, crush rivals, and gain control over strategic resources. Early victories, like the rapid conquest of France and the initial success in the Soviet Union, made global domination seem possible. However, his plans failed due to several key factors: the vast scale of his ambitions, the resilience of the Allies, and strategic mistakes—especially the invasion of the Soviet Union and the declaration of war on the United States. Germany became overextended, facing multiple powerful enemies on several fronts. By 1945, Allied forces defeated the Nazis, Hitler died by suicide, and his dreams of global domination collapsed. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Elzė Vainoriūtė, 15m, 9t |
| Educational institution | Klaipėda Vydūnas gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The Sun Never Sets on The British Empire |
| The main idea of the caricature | One can not rule the whole world. |
| The characters depicted | The British Empire in the 19th–20th centuries. |
| The symbols and their meaning | 1. A man - The British Empire. His face reflects emotions of anger and annoyance, which symbolize the greed of empires. 2. Globe behind the man's arms – colonies. The man is unable to encompass the whole world - which is exactly why disputes and wars have arisen. 3. Flag „Imperialism“ The flag is like a symbol of victory, but in this context it is ironic - only the empires see themselves as heroes. |
| Performance technique | Gel pen and watercolor. |
| Historical context | In the 19th–20th centuries European countries were obsessed with expanding their empires, driven by economic interests, nationalist pride, and the belief in cultural superiority. Because of that, countries in Africa, Asia, and the America were ruthlessly exploited by European Empires. The British Empire had the most colonies over the world - it was called “the empire on which the sun never sets” - and they were still not satisfied. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Ema Kujelytė – Kučinskaitė 15 years old, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Šilutės pirmoji gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Degenerate art |
| The main idea of the caricature | The destruction of Modernist art by the Nazi Party |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler |
| The symbols and their meaning | The painting “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh represents all the Germ an modernist art that Nazi's claimed to be “degenerate”. Adolf Hitler stomping on it represents the Nazi party destroying the artwork. The term “degenerate art” in the shadow symbolizes how Nazi's ridiculed artwork that was modern |
| Performance technique | Graphic pencil |
| Historical context | The term “degenerate art” adopted used to describe modern art that was destroyed and ridiculed by the Nazi Party |
| Author's name surname, grade | Emilė Štaraitė, 2nd gymnasium class. |
| Educational institution | Panevėžys Juozas Miltinis gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Shameless minds |
| The main idea of the caricature | Nuremberg Trial |
| The characters depicted | A. Hitler |
| The symbols and their meaning | The ghost is A. Hitler, who symbolizes the terrific Nazi regime that was criticized during the trial. The indifferent and sorrowful eyes symbolize the different emotions people felt during the Nuremberg Trial. Lastly, the words and pointing hands show how some convicts did not wish to take responsibility for their actions and blamed Hitler's reign instead. |
| Performance technique | Digital art |
| Historical context | The Nuremberg Trial was a significant event that took place after World War II. Its duration was from November 20th, 1945, to October 1st, 1946. It was the first ever international war crimes tribunal in history, where certain convicts were punished for their compliance and/or execution of brutal actions during the war. The accusations were a devastating truth, and to prove that, a film that contained crucial evidence of the committed brutalities was shown for everyone present. Some people cried witnessing such a brutal sight, however, some tried to shake their wrongdoings off and blame the regime for their actions. It was all a shameful attempt to avoid punishment. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Emilija Veštortaitė, I Pre-IB |
| Educational institution | Kauno jėzuitų gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | The ignorance of the monarchy |
| The main idea of the caricature | France’s monarchy was ignorant and incredibly selfish, completely ignoring their people and their needs. |
| The characters depicted | Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI |
| The symbols and their meaning | The table full of food symbolises the Monarchy’s wealth and their indifference to the ordinary people’s suffering. Also Marie Antoinette’s necklace is a reference to the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, which tarnished the queen’s reputation. |
| Performance technique | Graphite pencil |
| Historical context | France was facing a widespread famine and people were living horribly, however the monarchy continued to live lavishly and spend a lot of money. This led to the French Revolution. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Emilija Zaburaitė, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | Molėtai gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Rivalry between the US and the USSR |
| The main idea of the caricature | Both countries desire to dominate in the world. |
| The characters depicted | On the left – the US president Ronald Reagan. On the right – president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The missiles – ready to be launched at any time. The globe – it shows the countries which are in the NATO and which are in the Warsaw pact. The blue colored countries – countries which were in NATO. Red colored countries – countries which were in the Warsaw Pact Organisation. NATO flag – the US founded NATO. Warsaw act Organisation – it was dominated by the Soviet Union. |
| Performance technique | Graphical drawing (with colored pencils, black pen and a pencil). |
| Historical context | The caricature depicts the Cold War from 1946 to 1991 between the United States and the USSR. Both countries created their spheres of influence, which were consolidated by military-political blocs. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Enrikas Ozolas, I gimnazijos klasė. |
| Educational institution | Šiaulių Juliaus Janonio gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | French Liberty |
| The main idea of the caricature | A satyrical view on the French Revolution and the nation's inability to avoid absolutist regimes. |
| The characters depicted | An undirect allusion to Louis XVI, Maximilien Robespierre and Napoleon Bonaparte. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The torn French flag represents the nation in a crisis, torn by wars and sufferage. The banner with writing ,,French Liberty'' as a mockery of the unstable nature of late XVIII-early XIX century France, unable of piece and prosperity. The Crown of Luis XV represents the old regime and the French monarchy (also a reference to Louis XVI). The Phrygian hat as a symbol of Revolutionary, transitional and dictatorship periods of the French government, referencing the Jakobin leader Maximilien Robespierre and the former king under the rule of Constitutional monarchy. Bicorne represents Napoleon and the regime under the Empire of France. The lance alludes to the determination of the French and the bloody revolutions between the regimes. The peace dove symbolises the idea that no regime is eternal or above God and that Napoleon's, same as the ones before, will not last. A soft silhouette of the French Emperor can be seen, alluding to the idea that he is no different and it is only his turn to terrorise the continent. |
| Performance technique | watercolor, felt-tip pens. |
| Historical context | The caricature reflects an anti-French point of view in the XVIII-XIX centuries. It's meant to be seen as a soft mockery of the nation seemingly unable to elect a stable regime. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Erikas Višniauskas, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | Molėtų gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Stalin's promise |
| The main idea of the caricature | The Soviet Union pretended to help Lithuania but actually wanted to take control over it. Lithuania lost its independence |
| The characters depicted | Stalin (representing the USSR) and a Lithuanian civilian (representing Lithuania). |
| The symbols and their meaning | Handshake: Symbolizes the false pretense of agreement and cooperation. Document labeled "Mutual Assistance Treaty": Represents the real historical agreement that allowed Soviet military presence in Lithuania. Lithuania's worn-out appearance: Reflects Lithuania's vulnerability and unequal position. |
| Performance technique | Hand-drawn line caricature in graphic style. |
| Historical context | In 1939 the USSR signed a "Mutual Assistance Treaty" with Lithuania. It led to occupation, not protection in 1940. |
| Author's name surname, grade | EVITA VIELIŪTĖ, IIG |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| Title of the caricature | VICTORY OVER EVIL. |
| The characters depicted | MAN IN PIEKI GERMAN DICTATOR HITLER |
| The symbols and their meaning | HITLER SYMBOLIZES NAZI GERMANY. HANDS DECORATED WITH THE FLAGS OF THE ALLIES. AT THE BOTTOM LEFT IS ENGLAND, AT THE TOP IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AT THE RIGHT IS THE SOVIET UNION |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts World War II. After the Allies opened the second front. |
| Author's name surname, grade | GABIJA PAULAUSKAITĖ, GRADE 10 |
| Educational institution | KUŽIAI SCHOOL OF ŠIAULIAI DISTRICT |
| Title of the caricature | SHATTERED WORLD |
| The main idea of the caricature | CONFRONTATION OF TWO SUPERPOWERS |
| The characters depicted | SUPERPOWERS: THE SOVIET UNION AND THE UNITED STATES |
| The symbols and their meaning | PERSONALITIES SYMBOLIZE SUPERPOWERS: THE SOVIET UNION AND THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE SEPARATED BY THE "IRON CURTAIN" THAT DIVIDED THE WORLD. |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the Cold War period from 1945 to 1989. The struggle between the superpowers: the Soviet Union and the United States. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Gabrielė Petrovaitė grade 10. |
| Educational institution | VDU "Rasos" Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Last dance before chaos |
| The main idea of the caricature | Interwar Europe is portrayed as celebrating, unaware of the approaching catastrophe – the rise of dictatorships and a threat of war |
| The characters depicted | A woman representing Europe between the two world wars, a fat man with money bag, symbolizing economic crisis, armed man in uniform representing the threat of war, hooded figure with a torch, symbolizing chaos and the dark silhouettes in the background are dictators. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The collapsing bridge symbolizes the peaceful post-war period and at the same time the preparation for armed struggle. |
| Performance technique | drawing |
| Historical context | It depicts Europe between the two world wars (1919-1939). It is a relatively peaceful period, but with the rise of dictators, preparations for war begin again. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Gabrielius Jasiūnas 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “A world full of perfect reflections – curved mirror world.” |
| The main idea of the caricature | The Soviet government depicted life on the Soviet Union republics as perfect projecting in colours and happiness, but the reality was different. As projection or propaganda for Western powers. |
| The characters depicted | Ordinary Soviet man |
| The symbols and their meaning | Ordinary Soviet man - general idea of Soviet social system. Wall – iron curtain ; division between West and East. Cold War Wall is a mirror – curved mirror reality projected by Soviet Union; it is also how the poor Soviet reality was projected to ordinary Soviet man. The word “LOVE” which is written against the mirror reflects “the word “USSR”.- lies; propaganda The emblem of the Soviet Union - Soviet system. |
| Performance technique | Graphics, colored pencils, black ink |
| Historical context | Soviet Union created a perfection idea of their system to the other side of the iron curtain, which is symbol of the Cold War (1946-1990). The reality was creation of the fully controlled citizens life, supressing individuality and creativity. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Gabrielius Reys, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „Isn‘t this stone a bit too heavy?“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature illustrates the geopolitical pressure on the weak Ottoman Empire, with major European powers manipulating the situation under the pretext of maintaining balance in Europe and protecting religious interests. |
| The characters depicted | The leaders of the countries who participated in Crimean War 1853-1856: Russian Tsar Nicholas the First, French Emperor Napoleon the Third, Queen Victoria, Ottoman turk (as personification of Ottoman Empire) |
| The symbols and their meaning | Big stone with the words “Balance of Power” shows how Britain wants to keep the balance of power in Europe, even if it puts pressure on the Ottoman Empire, as Queen Victoria is shown standing on the back of turk. The stone is trembling – as the balance of power becomes unstable because of the actions of Great Powers. Nicholas I' sword and crown shows Russia’s power and its wish to grow stronger in the region. Also Russian expansionism. Nicholas I pulling the Ottoman’s moustache, this gesture means Russia is bullying the Ottoman Empire also it's an act of aggression. Napoleon III is shown as a boxer – shows France is ready to defend the Ottomans and challenge Russia in the fierce fight. Napoleon III standing on a paper saying “Churches in Palestina” means France is using religion as a reason to act against Russia. |
| Performance technique | Pencil, ink, pen, markers |
| Historical context | The Crimean War (1853-1856) is significant because it was one of the first modern wars and showed how powerful countries fought for control and influence. The war was mainly between Russia and an alliance of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire. Russia wanted to expand its territory and gain control over important areas like the Black Sea and the Ottoman Empire. During 19th century Ottoman empire’s power began to deteriorate. Russia began its expansion into Ottoman empire to take lands, control Black Sea and have more influence in Europe. If Russia succeeded, it could have changed the balance of power and made Russia the strongest country in Europe. This action led France and Britain, which advocated for balance of power, into the war against Russia. Russia also wanted a greater control in the region over Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land. France, under Napoleon III, claimed to protect Catholic rights in Palestine. These tensions between religion, politics, and power eventually led to the war. After this war, "The Great Game" deepened and became even more tense. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Gerda Bandžiukaitė 2b |
| Educational institution | Klaipeda “Aukuras“ gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Napoleon’s march to Russia” |
| The main idea of the caricature | “You will not escape the enemy who awaits you wherever you travel.” |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon the first and his soldier. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Four knifes- symbolize death. |
| Performance technique | I used only coloured pencils. |
| Historical context | The army marched through Russia, winning a few minor skirmishes and the Battle of Smolensk on 16-18 August, but on the same days the Russians stopped another part of the French force at the Battle of Polotsk, which prevented them from advancing to the then Russian capital of St Petersburg. Nevertheless, the main French forces, led by Napoleon, continued to march towards Moscow. The Russian army used scorched-earth tactics in its retreat, devastating the areas where Napoleon's forces were to march, as well as to prevent the enemy from obtaining resources and food supplies. This led to heavy French losses and desertions early in the campaign. After the Battle of Borodino, Mikhail Kutuzov decided to leave Moscow without a fight. On 14 September. The French army entered Moscow. Napoleon, afraid to stay in Moscow any longer, ordered the army to retreat. The situation was made much worse by the early winter. Many French soldiers died of cold, hunger, disease and Cossack attacks. Only about 10 000 soldiers (excluding deserters) left Russia. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Goda Dužinaitė, I g. |
| Educational institution | LSMU gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | "Napoleon’s Frozen Defeat" |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature shows Napoleon’s crushing defeat in Russia, emphasizing his weakness and the overpowering force of the Russian winter. |
| The characters depicted | A small, exhausted, and frozen Napoleon riding on a horse. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Big Hat: It symbolizes Napoleon’s oversized ambition, pride and his small height. Small, tired Napoleon: It symbolizes his weakness after defeat. Map of Russia: It symbolizes the vast, unconquerable land. |
| Performance technique | Pencil shading creates depth and emotion, also the cold, bleak atmosphere of failure. |
| Historical context | In 1812, Napoleon’s campaign to conquer Russia ended in disaster as brutal winter, starvation, and constant attacks destroyed most of his Grand Army. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Greta Baužaitė 15 years old 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Šilutės pirmoji gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The burning greed burns its self |
| The main idea of the caricature | King Louis XIV has spent all of his countries fundings on partying while his people where in shambles |
| The characters depicted | Louis XIV (the Sun King) |
| The symbols and their meaning | Grapes represent wealth. Scythe represents peasants work. The sun represents Louises nickname (The Sun King). Blue colored blankets represent royalty and wealth. The crown shows Louises absolute monarchy ruling |
| Performance technique | Watercolor |
| Historical context | In 1661 Louise XIV started ruling as an absolute monarch in France. He spent all of his country's money for his own pleasures and that led to the country being in large debt. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Jonas Lasys, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | VDU „Rasos“ gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Never enough |
| The main idea of the caricature | There will never be enough power and weapons for the US |
| The characters depicted | US government |
| The symbols and their meaning | Atomic missiles; The meaning: America will always want more power and influence |
| Performance technique | Drawing |
| Historical context | During the Nuclear arms race (1945 10 22 - 1987 12 08) America made more and more atomic weapons to scare their enemies |
| Author's name surname, grade | Joris Šalvaitis; 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Napoleons footprints in Europe” |
| The main idea of the caricature | Territorial changes made by Napoleon I during the Napoleonic Wars period. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon I – French emperor. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Footprints – depicting Napoleons creation of two countries during Napoleonic wars: Confederation of Rhine (1806) and Duchy of Warsaw (1807) Napoleons dirty shoe – the dirty shoe represents the Holy Roman Empire which was demolished by Napoleon and replaced with the Confederation of the Rhine. Napoleon walking away - Napoleon walking away depicts his exile from Europe. Sand dial – The sand dial means that the changes in European borders and the creation of the new countries are temporary. Pecking crow – The pecking crow emphasises that the changes are very temporary and that outside forces are shortening for how long the changes will stay. |
| Performance technique | Black pen and pencils on paper |
| Historical context | During the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815), Napoleon tried to conquer Europe and spread the influence of himself and France. In the pursuit of conquering Europe, he created two new territories: The Grand dutchy of Warsaw and the confederation of the Rhine. With the creation of the confederation of the Rhine he destroyed the country that previously occupied that area which was the Holy Roman Empire. This was done to weaken German land especially Prussia. Napoleon needed support from Polish nobles to pass the territory freely and have a greater access to fight Russia. The Congress of Vienna was introduced after the exile of Napoleon. It returned the borders to what was before Napoleonic wars and created Vienna system territorial order. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Justas Kurelaitis, (IId) |
| Educational institution | Kauno Maironio university gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Ice cream after the wedding“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany divided Central Europe |
| The characters depicted | Stalin and Hitler |
| The symbols and their meaning | The cartoon portrays spoons as symbols of sharing, while the ice cream - colored like various national flags - represents Europe |
| Performance technique | Mixed media (pencils, markers and pen) |
| Historical context | The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, was signed on August 23, 1939. The pact defined that the two nations would not attack each other. Additionally, a secret protocol divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence — like two friends sharing a bowl of ice cream. This agreement paved the way for the invasion of Poland, which led to the start of World War II. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Kamelia Kostadinova, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Akademik Nikola Obreshkov", Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Title of the caricature | The puppet Fuhrer |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature shows metaphor for manipulation. Hitler, as a puppeteer, plays with fallen leaders - lost in delusion while the world he tried to control falls apart around him. |
| The characters depicted | Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Boris III |
| The symbols and their meaning | The dolls symbolize all the leaders, placed on a round table resembling the world. And the background is a cracked plaster wall symbolizing the gloomy situation in which the world finds itself. |
| Performance technique | Traditional, graphic |
| Historical context | The work captures the late stages of World War II, depicting Hitler’s manipulation of allied and rival leaders |
| Author's name surname, grade | Kamilė Jonkutė, 2e class. |
| Educational institution | VDU Rasa gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Don't cry, child, just don't hurt us! |
| The main idea of the caricature | A.Hitler is depicted as a crying child. He is given a teddy bear to calm him down - the Land of the Sudeten. |
| The characters depicted | French Prime Minister E. Daladier, British Prime Minister A. N. Chamberlain, Italian Prime Minister B. Mussolini, German Chancellor A. Hitler. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Teddy bear – Sudetenland, appeasement policy. Swastika – Nazi, Aryan victory sign. Child – emotional and ambitious person. Tears – anger and fear of not getting the desired land. Munich conference hall – place of conspiracy. |
| Performance technique | Black tea, watercolor, black, gray pen. |
| Historical context | A. Hitler felt impunity. Threatening war, he demanded the Sudetenland, densely populated by Germans, from Czechoslovakia. To resolve the conflict, a conference was convened in Munich in 1938. Fearing a new world war, Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement. Their politicians believed that concessions would stop the aggressor. A. Hitler was promised not to support Czechoslovakia if it no longer made territorial claims and threatened war. The Sudetenland was given to Germany with all its assets. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Kamilė Vaišvilaitė, Ih |
| Educational institution | Klaipėdos „Aukuro“ gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | One Big Happy Family |
| The main idea of the caricature | The cartoon uses satire to show how Soviet propaganda falsely portrayed the annexation of Lithuania and other Baltic states as a peaceful unification. |
| The characters depicted | Soviet style soldiers – the force of Soviet A young woman – Lithuania Six figures in the family portrait – Russia and neighboring occupied nations: Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The family portrait – symbolizes an ironic representation of a „Family” united by force. The women – symbolizes Lithuanian nation, freedom, fragility and cultural identity. The soldiers – symbolize brutal power that imposes so-called “unity”. |
| Performance technique | Graphic art |
| Historical context | This cartoon is based on the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940. After the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Lithuania was put into the Soviet zone of influence. Soon, the Soviet Union brought in its army and changed the Lithuanian government to one that followed Moscow‘s orders. Soviet propaganda said that Lithuania joined the Soviet „family“ freely, but that is not true. It was not a free choice. The cartoon shows this sad truth: a scared woman is being pulled into fake family photo where all the others already look the same, with no personal identity. To me this cartoon is not just about history. It shows the rear of losing freedom and the right to speak. People didn’t know what would happen to them. Many were sent away, forces to stay quiet or even were punished. The cartoon helps us to understand that even if everything looks peaceful from the outside, there can still be fear and pain inside. That‘s why it‘s important to remember this history. In my opinion, history is not only about facts. It is about real people who hoped, suffered and kept going. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Karina Jemeljanenko, 10th grade. |
| Educational institution | VMU „Rasa“ gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | "When Sandcastles Turn into Graves" |
| The main idea of the caricature | The cartoon shows how war instigators act like children playing in a sandbox, but the consequences of their “games” are real human deaths. It reveals the absurdity of war and the irresponsible attitude of those in power toward human lives. |
| The characters depicted | Hitler – Nazism, genocide. Stalin– Soviet communism, repression. Mussolini – Fascism, dictatorship. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The sandbox – symbolizes how the dictators selfishly “play” with Europe, treating it as a game rather than real people’s lives. Clock without hands – time feels frozen for the people living through war. It symbolizes hopelessness, endless suffering, and the uncertainty of when it will all end. The books in flames -symbolize the banning of books during World War II. urning buildings and smoke – represent the consequences of war: destruction, death, and devastation. Red edge of the table – possibly symbolizes blood, victims, or a threatening atmosphere. |
| Performance technique | Mixed media technique: coloured pencils, pen or ink, and graphite were used. |
| Historical context | This caricature portrays the historical context of the first half of the 20th century, when three dictators – Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Benito Mussolini – rose to power in Europe. Their decisions and actions led to large-scale war, destruction, and the suffering of millions. In the caricature, they are depicted as if playing a game with the map of Europe, symbolizing their indifference to the fate of people. The grey background filled with ruins, smoke, flames, and crying civilians reflects the real consequences of war – destroyed cities, lost lives, and widespread pain that spared no one. It is a powerful visual commentary on the abuse of power and the horrors of war. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Karolis Jaskūnas, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus University "Rasos" gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Industrial revolution and environment |
| The main idea of the caricature | The Industrial revolution brought a new way to pollute the environment |
| The characters depicted | Sun, smoke and two architects |
| The symbols and their meaning | Sun represents the nature and environment. Smoke represents the pollution of the environment. |
| Performance technique | Coloured pencil technique |
| Historical context | Historical context of the caricature: when the Industrial revolution began, people improved significantly and started building factories to make products cheaper and faster, which started polluting the environment more than ever. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Leira Kelmelytė, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Siauliai University Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „Brains Then, Phones Now |
| The main idea of the caricature | The ideas of the Enlightenment encouraged people to think independently and develop their reasoning. Today, however, it seems we are going backwards, returning to a time when people blindly trusted higher authorities. |
| The characters depicted | Denis Diderot – a thinker of the Enlightenment era, author and editor of the Encyclopedia. The 18th-century society – reading the encyclopedia, thinking critically, and discovering new ideas. The 21st-century society – staring at their smartphones, passive, and dependent on technology. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Encyclopedia – symbolizes traditional, deep learning and the values of the Enlightenment. Light bulbs – symbolize independent thinking and the discovery of new ideas. Smartphones – represent modern access to information and dependency on technology. Ellipses (three dots) – symbolize waiting, uncertainty, and the loss of clear thinking. |
| Performance technique | Mixed technique |
| Historical context | Denis Diderot – A thinker of the Enlightenment believed that knowledge should be accessible to everyone. That’s why he published the Encyclopedia, which gathered information on science, the arts, and crafts. It became a symbol of progress that encouraged people to think independently — but what about today? |
| Author's name surname, grade | Liepa Marija Tėvelytė IgC |
| Educational institution | LSMU gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „The Propaganda War“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | To show the ideological conflict between the USA and the USSR during the Cold War, using propaganda to influence global opinion. |
| The characters depicted | Uncle Sam (USA) and a Soviet leader (USSR), both standing on platforms and shouting through megaphones to the people to follow their ideology. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Megaphones – Propaganda tools Platforms with slogans – Ideological foundations: “Freedom and Democracy” vs. “Communism and Control (USSR)” The human in the middle – The confused or represents undecided world opinion. Hats/uniforms – National identity and authority. |
| Performance technique | Exaggeration, contrast, and symbolism in vintage political cartoon style with bold outlines. |
| Historical context | The Cold War (1947–1991) was a global political and ideological struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. After World War II, the two superpowers emerged with opposing systems: capitalism and democracy in the West, led by the USA, and communism in the East, led by the USSR. Instead of direct military confrontation, they competed through propaganda, espionage, arms races, and influence over other nations. Each side tried to present its ideology as superior, education, and political messaging to sway global opinion. This caricature highlights the intense propaganda battle that shaped public perception during this era. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Liepa Žumbakytė, 16, Form 10 |
| Educational institution | Kaunas “Saulės gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Layers of power |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature shows how common people carried the burden of the privileged classes highlighting social inequality in pre-revolutionary France. |
| The characters depicted | Louis XVI, clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie and working class |
| The symbols and their meaning | The fat king – Gluttony of the king’s cake; The cake – economy of France The person carrying the cake – Bourgeoisie and working class The priest – clergy The nobleman - nobility |
| Performance technique | graphic |
| Historical context | Before the French revolution the society was divided into unequal estates. The Third Estate bore heavy taxes, whereas the nobility and clergy lived in privilege. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Maja Dulaite, 15, Grade 9t |
| Educational institution | Klaipeda Vydunas Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Bickering Among Children” |
| The main idea of the caricature | Cold War Arms Race |
| The characters depicted | Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin |
| The symbols and their meaning | USSR symbols and the American flag, atomic bombs, and their launch buttons. |
| Performance technique | Grafic |
| Historical context | During the Cold War, a rapid arms race unfolded, marked by intense competition between the two most influential nations—the Soviet Union and the United States. Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States at the time, initiated the American anti-communist policy. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Maja Tubielevič, 16 years old |
| Educational institution | Vilnius Juzefo Ignacijaus Krashevsky Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | "Cold War" |
| The main idea of the caricature | The political rivalry between the USA and the Soviet Union, which manifested in all spheres of life. |
| The characters depicted | Nikita Khrushchev – First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. John Fitzgerald Kennedy – 35th President of the United States. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Environment: Racing, karting. Cars (Moskvich, Cadillac): Represent technological competitions, showing how both states aimed to prove they had the best products and the ability to lead. National flags: Symbols of statehood. |
| Performance technique | Digital Painting |
| Historical context | The caricature depicts the Cold War, the period after World War II when tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union were high, though no direct military conflict occurred. N. Khrushchev and J. Kennedy were two key leaders of this era. The Cold War was marked not only by military tensions but also by intense technological and technical competitions between the USA and the Soviet Union. This translation accurately captures the historical facts and meaning from the original Lithuanian text. Let me know if you need any modifications or clarifications! |
| Author's name surname, grade | Mante Guobyte, 15 years old, 9th grade. |
| Educational institution | Silute First Gymnasium. |
| Title of the caricature | Best friends |
| The main idea of the caricature | Hitler’s and Stalin’s closeness is like a friendship. |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are portrayed as best friends for life because of their shared evil history, which is shown with the fire in the background. |
| Performance technique | Graphic pen. |
| Historical context | The non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union was signed in 1939. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Maria Nikonets, grade 10 |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | "Whose War is Colder?" |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature depicts the Cold War as a tense rivalry between Khrushchev and Kennedy, each on a tribunal judging a divided world. A unified crowd with opposing posters highlights the ideological clash, questioning whose power prevails in this silent war. |
| The characters depicted | Nikita Khrushchev, shown with a corn cob, embodying Soviet agricultural focus and bravado. John F. Kennedy, with a red button, representing nuclear tension. The crowd, a faceless mass, symbolizes humanity caught in their conflict. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Corn (Khrushchev’s agricultural push), rocket and cosmonaut (Soviet space success), Khrushchevkas (Soviet daily life). Red button (nuclear threat), twin towers under construction (American ambition), rocket (U.S. space race), Hollywood sign (cultural propaganda masking Cold War fears). The posters in the crowd reflect propaganda fueling the East-West divide. |
| Performance technique | Digital drawing in an art program, using muted colors with emphasis on key symbols and exaggerated political caricatures for a stark, satirical effect. |
| Historical context | Cold War (1947-1991): Khrushchev and Kennedy’s rivalry peaked in 1962 with the Cuban Missile Crisis, a near-nuclear clash over ideology and power. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Martyna Gutauskaitė, 15 years old, FORM: 9D |
| Educational institution | Kaunas John Paul II Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Napoleon’s Zoo. |
| The main idea of the caricature | Napoleon wants to conquer all of Europe. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon, Great Britain, Russia and Austria. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Big hat - power, authority, arrogance. Explosives – war. Lion – Great Britain. Bear – Russia. Eagle – Austria. |
| Performance technique | Coloured pencils |
| Historical context | The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) took place between Napoleon Bonaparte's France and coalitions formed by other European countries. After the revolution in France, the wars were fought due to Napoleon's desire to conquer all Europe. He won many battles, such as Austerlitz and Jena, but suffered a disastrous defeat in Russia in 1812. Great Britain was his biggest enemy, using its powerful naval forces to disrupt Napoleon's plans and economically blockade France. Other powerful European countries, such as Austria, Prussia, and Russia, were also persistently opposed to Napoleon. The wars devastated Europe and redrew the continent‘s map. Napoleon's downfall began after his failed attempt to conquer Russia, which shattered his army. His last significant defeat was in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. The battle ended with Napoleon's exile. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Martyna Narakaitė, 15, 1 PreIB |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jesuit high school |
| Title of the caricature | „Moving forward in freedom” |
| The main idea of the caricature | The French Revolution’s attempt to overthrow monarchical tyranny and establish the rule of people |
| The characters depicted | Clergyman, peasants, government |
| The symbols and their meaning | Words symbolize the desire for freedom, peasant clothing symbolizes poor living conditions |
| Performance technique | Drawing with pencil and outlining with a black gel pen |
| Historical context | The French Revolution and the use of guillotine |
| Author's name surname, grade | MATAS SLABYS, GRADE 9 |
| Educational institution | KUŽIAI SCHOOL OF ŠIAULIAI DISTRICT |
| Title of the caricature | WILD CAPITALISM |
| The main idea of the caricature | THE POWERFUL AGAINST THE WEAK |
| The characters depicted | CAPITALIST, EXPLOITED WORKERS |
| The symbols and their meaning | THE CAPITALIST (THE PLUMP ONE) EXPLOITS THE WORKERS (THE SMALL ONE FEELING SUPRESSED) |
| Performance technique | COMPUTER-READED DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon is set during the Industrial Revolution, 19th century. It depicts a fat capitalist and how he exploits his workers to have a better quality of life. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Matyash Vlada, 15 years old, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | "Iranian Crisis 1946-1947" |
| The main idea of the caricature | The image shows the tense situation during the Iran Crisis, when Soviet troops were stationed in Iran, which caused international concern. |
| The characters depicted | Soviet soldiers: Dressed in military uniforms, they symbolize the Soviet presence in Iran. Iranians: Depicted as civilians, they represent the local population observing the situation |
| The symbols and their meaning | Iranian flag: Symbolizes the national identity and sovereignty of Iran. Soviet military equipment: Indicates the military presence of the USSR. Mosque in the background: Perhaps symbolizes the cultural and religious context of Iran |
| Performance technique | The illustration is made in a style reminiscent of historical drawings or caricatures. |
| Historical context | The Iran-Iraq Crisis of 1946–1947 arose after World War II, when the Soviet Union refused to withdraw its troops from Iran, where they were stationed to provide supplies to the Allies. This led to pressure from the United States and the United Nations, which led to the withdrawal of Soviet troops. The crisis was one of the first major conflicts of the Cold War. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Meda Ostrianicaitė, 15 years old, 9t |
| Educational institution | Klaipėdos Vydūnas gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “A pawn without a choice” |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature reveals the loss of Lithuania’s independence in 1939-1940 when it became a negotiation card between the two dictators- Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Lithuania is shown as a pawn on the chessboard without the right to decide its own fate. |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. |
| The symbols and their meaning | THE CHESSBOARD shows a political game between two powerful leaders. PAWN WITH LITHUANIA’S FLAG means Lithuania- small and powerless, unable to choose its own future. THE SPEECH BUBBLES symbolize a carefree approach to the future of nations, as if they were a game. |
| Performance technique | Black gel pen (graphic art), hand drawn caricature. |
| Historical context | In 1939, Nazi Germany and USSR made a secret deal to divide Eastern Europe. In 1940 the Soviet Union took over Lithuania. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Mėja Mikailaitė, grade 10 |
| Educational institution | Engineering Lyceum of Vilnius Gediminas technical university |
| Title of the caricature | The Magnet between East and West |
| The main idea of the caricature | Although East German people were drawn to the West, the authorities did not allow them to escape. |
| The characters depicted | The man on the run is an East German citizen who yearns for freedom. The hands holding the chain stand for the sanctions of the Government. The hands holding the flags represent West German citizens who can freely express their standpoints. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The chain pulling a man back and the handcuffs stand for the Government that forbade freedom. The magnet symbolizes the desire of people to escape by any means. The German flag with the coat of arms stands for the East whereas the one without the coat of arms – the West. Flying birds represent freedom in the West. |
| Performance technique | Graphite pencils |
| Historical context | The Berlin Wall separated West and East Berlin from 1961 to 1989. More than five million Germans from the East strove to escape to the West in search of freedom. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Mėta Žebelytė, IIMYP |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | A Toast to Temporary Friendship |
| The main idea of the caricature | The main idea of this caricature is to criticize the fragile and insincere alliance between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during Worl A Toast to Temporary Friendship d War II, symbolized by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (1939) The caricature shows Hitler and Stalin sitting at a table under a red light, with the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact lit up between them. Hitler is holding up a glass of wine and smiling, trying to toast to their “friendship,” but Stalin has left his glass on the table and looks suspicious. It shows how fake the friendship and alliance between Hitler and Stalin during the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was. It also accentuates the tension and lack of trust between the leaders and hints at the betrayal that is soon to happen (German invaded Soviet Union in 1941), even though they’re pretending to be allies at that moment. |
| The characters depicted | Hitler represents Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Nazi foreign minister, and Stalin represents Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet foreign minister. They symbolize the officials who signed the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, because these two leaders have never met. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The lamp that is shown in the caricature illustrates the lamps that were popular in the 1930s and the red light that is coming from it highlights the Ribbentrop - Molotov pact in the middle of the leader drawing attention. The bright red gives a feeling of danger, tension, and warning, matching the theme of betrayal and fake peace. The wine drinking depicts the toast; however, Stalin’s glass is on the table showing distrust. The wilting flowers on the table show the fragility of their alliance and how it will soon fall apart. The wine represents the blood of soldiers and many people who died because of their actions. The messy bold streaking around the main action of the caricature creates an unsafe feeling. The subtle light that is dropping on both leaders but doesn’t fully illuminate them shows that they’re hiding their true intentions and are acting mysteriously. Stalin’s hand on the table illustrates his suspicion, caution and readiness to act. |
| Performance technique | I used a black marker to create sharp and bold lines as well as to add shading for a bit of realism using the streaking technique. The black marker helped define the characters and made the shadows more dramatic. I also used a red pencil for the red light which highlights the pact. The color added a symbolic and emotional effect to the scene. The combination of black line work and an accent color helped me create a bold, focused style that draws attention to the expressions of characters and the pact that was made. |
| Historical context | The Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, which was signed in 1939, August 23, was a Non-Aggression Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, with a secret division of power and spheres of influence across Eastern Europe. As a result of this pact: Germany invaded Poland from the west on September 1, 1939.The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on September 17, 1939. This invasion started World War II. As the alliance was temporary and built on distrust. On June 22, 1941, Germany broke the pact by launching Operation Barbarossa, a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Miglė Barsegianaitė, 15, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kauno Saulės gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The Cold War |
| The main idea of the caricature | During the Cold War, the fate of the world became a hostage to the goepolitical games between two superpowers – the USA ant the USSR; people, culture, and peace were reduced to mere chess pieces in global struggle for inluence. |
| The characters depicted | Two large figures representing the USSR and the USA, positioned as opponents in a chess game. Civilians and symbolic elements are inside the globe on the table, affected by their actions. |
| The symbols and their meaning | -The chessboard: symbolizes strategic global conflict. - The globe: represents Earth and humanity caught between superpowers. -The fallen chess piece: symbolizes casualties, lost influence, or defeated ideological division (black vs. White, East vs. West). -Uniforms/hats labeled ‘‘USSR‘‘ and ‘‘USA‘‘: identify the two key players in the Cold War. |
| Performance technique | Watercolor and ink illustration. |
| Historical context | Cold War (1947-1991): political and ideological conflict between the USA and the USSR, marked by propoganda, arms race, and proxy wars without direct battle. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Miglė Vaitonytė, class 2A (10th grade) |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus univeristy “Rasos” gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The Gallic Rooster |
| The main idea of the caricature | A satirical take on Napoleon’s self-image and pride, comparing his imperial ambition to a rooster’s boldness. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte |
| The symbols and their meaning | Laurel crown – Imperial power, heroism, self-declared glory. A red comb, wattles (rooster features on the head and chin), and a beak – a reference to the Gallic rooster, which is a national symbol of France as a nation. The use of only 3 colors - red white and blue – a reference to the French flag. Long live France (“Vive la France”) – a popular expression of patriotic sentiment and national pride, dating back to the beginning of the French Revolution. |
| Performance technique | Digital art |
| Historical context | Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) rose to great power during the French Revolution and soon became an emperor, a walking symbol of the French in 1804. Remarkably known for his military history, he expanded French territory all across Europe and reshaped politics with his Napoleonic code. His ambition and self-image were immeasurable — he notably crowned himself emperor, symbolizing his deepest beliefs in personal destiny over rooted tradition. The Gallic |
| Author's name surname, grade | Milda Pužaite, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Šilutės pirmoji gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Nothing goes unseen |
| The main idea of the caricature | Hitler's bad deeds and how he's drowning in mud for it. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The band on the arm - Hitler's symbol. Hands - pulling him into the depths of pain and suffering. Dark hand - his symbolic salute. The background - quick sand so that he'd suffer even more since he's slowly getting sucked into hell. |
| Performance technique | Graphic pencil, watercolour pencils. |
| Historical context | World war II |
| Author's name surname, grade | MINĖJA VARANIUTĖ, II C, |
| Educational institution | Jurbarkas Antanas Giedraitis-Giedrius gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Cold ending” |
| The main idea of the caricature | Reagan and Gorbachev are represented as toddlers, whose decisions influenced the ending of the Cold war. |
| The characters depicted | Leaders of the US and USSR during the Cold War-Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Globe-the world; Red colour-politic tension; Fridge-the Cold War; Blocks-the Berlin wall remains. Spyglass-spying. Writing on the wall-thought about freedom |
| Performance technique | Graphic pens, markers |
| Historical context | The first meeting between the leaders of the United States and the USSR took place in Geneva in November 1985. Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to reduce their countries' nuclear arsenals by half. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Moiseenko Veronica Maria, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | Napoleon escapes from the island of Elba |
| The main idea of the caricature | Absolute monarchy began to hinder development in the early 19th century, so the people supported the emperor in seizing power. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte, King Louis XVIII(monkey) |
| The symbols and their meaning | Tuileries Palace (On March 21, 1815, Parisians carried the emperor in their arms to the Tuileries Palace.) The king is depicted as a monkey wearing a crown because the people are dissatisfied with the policies of the Bourbons. The people warmly welcomed Napoleon, and the army went over to his side, so I drew the inscription "welcome" |
| Performance technique | Graphic pen |
| Historical context | Following the results of the Congress of Vienna, the Bourbons were restored and King Louis XVIII came to power in France. He began his rule by trying to restore the previous pre-revolutionary order. At the same time, he began to carry out repressions against former supporters and followers of Napoleon. Support for the new monarch among the people began to fall rapidly. At that moment, Napoleon Bonaparte, in exile on the island of Elba, decided to make a daring escape and triumphantly return to France. March 1, 1815 Napoleon together with a detachment of about 1000 people successfully escaped from the island and landed on the southern coast of France. On March 3, Louis XVIII received news that the former emperor had fled and was moving towards Paris with his army. King Louis XVIII sent an army of 30,000 a man to defeat Napoleon and capture Bonaparte again. Army did not attack her former emperor and joined Napoleon in full. As the Napoleonic army approached Paris, it became larger. Louis XVIII was forced to flee the capital, as he understood that he alone would not be able to defeat Bonaparte, whom the French press began to call the "Corsican monster." March 20, 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte entered Paris triumphantly and without firing a single shot. The jubilant crowd brought the ego into the royal palace. From this moment, "100 days of Napoleon" began. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Monika Linkevičiūtė, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Klaipėda Vydūnas Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | When Peace Met Chaos |
| The main idea of the caricature | War-torn, Yet United: The Christmas Truce of 1914 |
| The characters depicted | British and German soldiers. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Bridge: Temporary peace. Crater: The destruction of the war. Scattered shovels: Soldiers’ weapons, they paused digging - and fighting, therefore the crater is not deepening until the end of the Christmas Truce. Cups of hot chocolate: Shared warmth amongst the soldiers on both sides. |
| Performance technique | Pencils, graphic pen. |
| Historical context | During the 1914 Christmas Truce, British and German soldiers left their trenches to share songs, handshakes, and even lice - a glimpse of humanity in World War I. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Nicole Petrova, 15, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Akademik Nikola Obreshkov", Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Title of the caricature | The human engine of industry |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature illustrates the harsh reality behind the rise of industrial society during the Industrial Revolution. It highlights how child labor and long working hours were vital, yet tragic components of the early economic progress. The picture questions whether it was all worth it, at what cost, and what comes next. |
| The characters depicted | The two children inside the broken clock represent the exploited youth of the Industrial Revolution. One child is pushing the gear, symbolizing forced labor and the physical effort demanded of even the youngest workers. The other is crouched down, exhausted, reflecting emotional and physical burnout. Both appear angry and tired, conveying frustration and loss of innocence. They are not simply individuals - they symbolize a whole generation of children whose childhoods were sacrificed for the sake of economic growth. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The gears and mechanisms: The gears inside the clock symbolize the machinery of industry. They represent the dehumanizing aspect of industrial progress, where children were used without regard for their suffering. The broken clock: Symbolizes the disruption of time and the loss of childhood during the Industrial Revolution. It shows how progress came at the cost of human innocence. The children: Depict the exploited youth of the era. One child is working, while the other is tired and angry, showing the physical and emotional toll of labor. The clock hands at 12: Indicate that progress is on the horizon, suggesting that after the exploitation, society can move forward to a better future where such labor is no longer needed. |
| Performance technique | The caricature was created using pencils, with a focus on shading to highlight the contrast between the two sides of the clock. The mechanism side uses beige and brown tones to emph The caricature was created using pencils, with a focus on shading to highlight the contrast between the two sides of the clock. The mechanism side uses beige and brown tones to emphasize the industrial elements, while the clock face is depicted in light blue to signify a sense of hope and progress. asize the industrial elements, while the clock face is depicted in light blue to signify a sense of hope and progress. |
| Historical context | The caricature reflects the impact of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, when rapid industrialization led to the widespread use of child labor. Children were forced to work long hours in factories and mines under dangerous conditions. While the revolution brought economic progress and technological advancement, it also resulted in the exploitation of workers, particularly the young. The caricature highlights this problem, showing how industrial growth came at the expense of childhood innocence and well-being |
| Author's name surname, grade | Nikol, Uzunova, IX grade |
| Educational institution | High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Akademik Nikola Obreshkov" |
| Title of the caricature | " The domino effect of history. " |
| The main idea of the caricature | To show that history is a chain reaction- one event leads to another, shaping our present and future. |
| The characters depicted | Gavrilo Princip (the one shooting Franz Ferdinand), on the first domino is Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on the second and fourth domino is shown Adolf Hitler, on the fifth domino is the first person to step on the moon-Neil Armstrong and the person pushing the last domino is a man from modern days. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Left bubble text (Gavrilo Princip's thoughts): "It all starts with a single shot..." - These are the thoughts of Gavrilo Princip before killing Franz Ferdinand, symbolizing how this one act would lead to irreversible global consequences. And so, the first domino in history begins to fall. Each domino represents a different era. The first, marked 1914, stands for Franz Ferdinand’s assassination and the start of World War I. The second features symbols of the National Socialist Party-the Swastika representing German nationalism, totalitarian control, militarism, Aryan identity and antisemitism, and the Nazi salute symbolizing loyalty to Hitler and national pride. The third domino shows the Treaty of Versailles, which ended WWI but placed harsh blame and penalties on Germany, sowing the seeds for WWII. The fourth domino features Adolf Hitler, whose ambitions for a pure German empire and to undo the treaty led to WWII. Between the fourth and fifth dominoes appears the atomic bomb of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, symbolizing the start of the Cold War in 1945- a tense era marked by division between the capitalist West and communist East, with threats like the Cuban Missile Crisis and nuclear arms race. On the fifth domino on the bottom right corner is the first man to step a foot on the moon (1969)-shows how quickly the world advanced for such a short time. The final domino shows a modern-day text and a question mark above it-symbolizing that the future is still unwritten. Will the last domino fall, or will humanity finally learn from history? Right bubble (Modern-day thoughts): "Can we stop before the last domino falls?" — a reflection from today's generation, urging us to break the cycle and change the course of history. |
| Performance technique | Hand-drawn graphic made with a fineliner. |
| Historical context | From the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the start of World War I (1914) to today's geopolitical tensions. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Nojus Plūkas, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „Échecs et mat” (checkmate) |
| The main idea of the caricature | Political cartoon illustrates the achievements of Napoleon I at the peak of his power. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon I – French emperor. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Napoleon wearing uniform – military policies of Napoleon . Napoleon playing chess – symbol of his strategic thinking and being military genius. Napoleon I placing his chess piece on the Europe map – Napoleon moves and decisions were important to Europe continent. The golden eagle, the coat of arms of French Empire in front – French Empire ; imperial power and ambitions. Behind it there is defeated Russian piece with numbers 1806- hinting to the battle Battle of Jena–Auerstedt which weakened Prussian army and carved a path to Berlin for Napoleon. Austrian piece with number 1805 – signifies the battle of Austerlitz. |
| Performance technique | Pencil, black pen, ink |
| Historical context | After the French Revolution (1789-1799), Napoleon rose rapidly through the military ranks and became Emperor of the French in 1804. Through a series of brilliant military campaigns, he expanded French influence across much of Europe, defeating other European monarchies as Prussia, Austria and Russia. The period from 1799 until 1815 known as Napoleonic war period during which Napoleon had success and failure times. The political cartoon period emphasize the period of success (military strength and strategic brilliance to dominate Europe): 1806 refers to the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt, where Napoleon defeated the Prussian army, leading to weakening Prussia’s position in Europe. Battle of Austerlitz, one of Napoleon’s greatest victories, where he decisively defeated the combined armies of Austria and Russia. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Nojus Valiūnas, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Unexpectedly interrupted Celebration” |
| The main idea of the caricature | Napoleon I retun from the exile from the island of Elba on 1814 surprising Congress of Vienna participants. |
| The characters depicted | French Emperor Napoleon I, Alexander I of Russia, Frederick William III of Prussia, Franz II of Austria. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The boat symbol of Napoleon I escape from the Elba island. Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) participant are dancing, celebrating, enjoying their time in Vienna. Some of them already saw Napoleon and are schocked by the unexpected event. This moment symbolically represents the sudden political threat that Napoleon posed to the European powers who were trying to restore peace after the Napoleonic Wars |
| Performance technique | Graphics, black ink |
| Historical context | The sudden return of Napoleon I from exile on the island of Elba in 1815. After his defeat in 1814, Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was sent into exile on Elba island. At that time the major European powers — Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Britain — gathered at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) to negotiate the restoration of monarchies, redraw European borders, and establish a long lasting balance of power after the Napoleonic Wars. The Congress was not only a political meeting but also a time of luxury, celebrations, and diplomacy in Vienna. Diplomatic efforts were unexpectedly interrupted when Napoleon escaped from Elba and marched back to France, regaining support and power during the period known as the Hundred Days. His return shocked the participants of the Congress, as it threatened the peace they were trying to establish and forced them to prepare for war once again which would be Waterloo battle 1815. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Normanas Pranevičius, 17 years old, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Kings play fight, Soldiers die” |
| The main idea of the caricature | The majority of wars are caused by a country’s leader’s selfish goals or aims (as in the case of WWI for imperialistic aims or rivalry between two cousins who will be ruling a greater empire), and all the battles should be fought by them, not by their country’s citizens. |
| The characters depicted | German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II and Great Britain’s King George V. British soldiers and German soldiers. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The main caricature symbols are the small fist German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II and Great Britain’s King George V. British soldiers and German soldiers.s of both George V and Vilhelm II, which symbolise their fear and poor masculinity. King’s figures size shows their responsibility for the war, as soldiers who look small are used from both sides as game figures. A depiction of nomads' land in the Western front line, which shows how deadly and destructive the war was. Another symbol is soldier equipment, as only a few soldiers have weapons or other tools, and in WWI, it was the same because, in some cases, soldiers had to fight with their fists only, which made this war even more terrible. The devastating effects of war: yellow clouds and gas masks symbolise the use of poison gas; Barbed wire is a brutal visual shorthand for trench warfare military frontlines, death zones, and the cruelty of war |
| Performance technique | Graphics, colored pencils, black ink |
| Historical context | WWI (1914-1918) was mainly caused by nationalism, militarism, alliances and imperialism. Two major powers were fighting in next to other allies in Western Europe – the German Empire and Great Britain. Those countries were competing in naval arms race, economic rivalry, colonial competition and who will become mpre powerful. Lots of soldiers have died just because a few European leaders hated each other and wanted to challenge themselves, and the worst is that they didn’t know why they were in war. Some soldiers in trenches were saying, What if our Kaiser fought with George V instead of us, and that’s what gave me an idea to visualize this thought. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Oleksandr Miski, 10 grade |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | Revolution of 1789-1799, the beginning of the fall of the monarchy in France |
| The main idea of the caricature | The death penalty of the Queen of France |
| The characters depicted | Marie Antoinette |
| The symbols and their meaning | Marie Antoinette's execution symbolizes revenge for social inequality between aristocrats and common people. A chessboard with pieces symbolizes the position of people in society. Blue, white and red colors of the French flag - Liberty, Equality and Fraternity |
| Performance technique | markers |
| Historical context | After her husband's execution, Marie Antoinette was thrown into prison. On October 14, 1793, the queen's trial began, and she was accused of embezzling public funds and conspiring against the republic. The verdict was passed quickly and she was executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793, on the Place de la Révolution. When she climbed up the scaffold, she accidentally stepped on the foot of the executioner Charles-Henri Sanson, saying, “I'm sorry, monsieur, I didn't mean to.” The guillotine came down at 12:15 pm. After the execution, the executioner lifted her head and showed it to the crowd, which greeted it with cheers. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Paulina Gervickaitė, 16 years old, 10 grade. |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus University „Rasos“ Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The arms race game |
| The main idea of the caricature | The cartoon illustrates the Cold War arms race between the USA and the USSR as a competitive soccer match involving nuclear weapons. |
| The characters depicted | The USA and the USSR, shown as rival players in a soccer match |
| The symbols and their meaning | The soccer ball shaped like nuclear bomb represents the dangerous competition in nuclear armament The players (USA and USSR) symbolize the two superpowers The soccer field and goal highlight the rivarly as a strategic game, not an open war. |
| Performance technique | Hand-drawn cartoon with ink and colored penc |
| Historical context | During the cold war, the USA and USSR engaged in an arms race, each trying to outmatch the other in nuclear weapons development and military power. |
| Author's name surname, grade | PERLA ŠIUIPYTĖ, IG |
| Educational institution | KURŠĖNAI LAURYNAS IVINSKIS GYMNASIUM |
| Title of the caricature | CHILD ABUSE |
| The characters depicted | ON THE LEFT, A CAPITALIST WITH DOLLAR SIGNS AND HIS ASSISTANT GIVING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE RIGHT ARE EXPLOITED BY CHILDREN WHO PUSH A COAL CART |
| The symbols and their meaning | ON THE LEFT, A CAPITALIST WITH DOLLAR SIGNS AND HIS ASSISTANT GIVING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE RIGHT ARE EXPLOITED BY CHILDREN WHO PUSH A COAL CART. |
| Performance technique | DRAWING, GRAPHICS |
| Historical context | The cartoon depicts the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century, which is characterized by the exploitation of children. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Pijus Minkevičius, 10 c grade |
| Educational institution | Molėtų Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Behind the Iron Curtain” |
| The main idea of the caricature | To highlight The USSR Rejection to Western aid after the Second World War. |
| The characters depicted | J. Stalin Poland Eastern Germany (during the Cold war.) Hungary Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Romania |
| The symbols and their meaning | J. Stalin towering over the other countries shows his power and unstopable rule. Money bags symbolize Western aid offered to countries that suffered during WW II. |
| Performance technique | Exaggeration and Symbolism. |
| Historical context | After the Second World War the USA offered financial aid known as “The Marshall Plan” to European countries that suffered immensely. The USSR leader refused to take it. As a result, people fled from East Berlin and such countries as Hungary and Czechoslovakia rebelled. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Ralitsa Slavova, Grade 9 |
| Educational institution | High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics acad. Nikola Obreshkov, Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Title of the caricature | In the name of political triumph... |
| The main idea of the caricature | One world, but divided and in line with the fears generated by the propaganda of both blocs in the Cold War. Propaganda in which the image of the enemy is more important than the common man. |
| The characters depicted | The Western Capitalist World and the Socialist System during the Cold War |
| The symbols and their meaning | Hammer and sickle - the Socialist ideology; Wall - the division between the Western and Eastern blocs; Wooden ladder - progress, ascension, ambition; The crack in the wall - the broken destinies and destroyed lives of the ordinary people and their families from both blocs; TV and posters - The propaganda and all kinds of manipulation. |
| Performance technique | Painting (digital) |
| Historical context | The Cold War in world history is a 40-year war for supremacy between the Western capitalist world and the Socialist ideology of the Eastern Bloc, in which there is no peace and direct war is impossible, but propaganda affects the lives of innocent citizens. The political propaganda of the Cold War, led by the USA and the USSR, was used exclusively to emphasize the alleged virtues and advantages of one political system, while criticizing or demonizing the other. In the name of political triumph, innocent citizens from both blocs suffer from broken destinies and destroyed lives, even though both systems promise and demonstrate political, economic, cultural, educational and sporting superiority. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Rokas Matijošius, 16 years old, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | Molėtų gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The Betrayal of Czechoslovakia |
| The main idea of the caricature | The cartoon criticizes the Munich Agreement, showing how appeasement led to Hitler's aggression and the attack on Czechoslovakia. |
| The characters depicted | British, Italian, French leaders and Adolf Hitler |
| The symbols and their meaning | Munich Agreement scroll- symbolizes the appeasement policy Bomb- symbolizes the attack on Czechoslovakia Swastika on Hitler’s armband- symbolizes Nazi Germany Czechoslovakia map- symbolizes the threatened country |
| Performance technique | Hand-drawn black and white caricature |
| Historical context | In 1938 the Munich Agreement allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia. Western powers believed it would prevent war, but it encouraged Hitler's aggression. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Rokas Umbrasas, Grade - 10c |
| Educational institution | Molėtų Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The Ban of the USSR |
| The main idea of the caricature | To Highlight The USSR rejection to the USA aid after the Second World War. |
| The characters depicted | The USSR, Poland, Eastern Germany (during the Cold war.) ,Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania, The USA, |
| The symbols and their meaning | Flags symbolize countries. |
| Performance technique | Drawing with felt-tip pens |
| Historical context | During "THE COLD WAR" The USSR banned socialist countries to accept US donation for improving life conditions. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Rugilė Bložytė, 9 grade |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus University “Rasos” gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | A Small Man with Huge Plans |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature mocks Napoleon’s ambition and ego by contrasting his small height with the oversized throne and symbols of power |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte |
| The symbols and their meaning | Large Throne – Symbolizes Napoleon’s huge ego and self-importance Small Napoleon – Highlights his real height and exaggerates the contrast with his ambitions Globe in Hands – Symbolizes desire for world domination Stabbed white Dove/Peace bird at the top of the throne – A peace symbol being stabbed, shows that Napoleon brought war, chaos and destruction, not peace |
| Performance technique | Black and white graphic drawing |
| Historical context | – Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader who became powerful during the French Revolution and made himself emperor in 1804. He was known for being a brilliant strategist and led many wars across Europe, trying to expand his control. Even though he said he supported the revolution, he ended up taking full power and ruling like a dictator. His actions brought a lot of violence and chaos to Europe. While he did make some changes and reforms, he’s mostly remembered for war, not peace. |
| Author's name surname, grade | RUGILĖ ŽIDULYTĖ, 16 years old, II C, |
| Educational institution | Jurbarkas Antanas Giedraitis-Giedrius gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | The Cherry on top |
| The main idea of the caricature | Visualized phrase of Marie Antoinette “If you don’t have bread, eat cake.” |
| The characters depicted | Marie Antoinette the queen of France, society |
| The symbols and their meaning | Cake-mockery of society; Flags- the nation of France; The bags of money-wealth; Fire- incitement of revoliution. |
| Performance technique | Coloured pencils, markers |
| Historical context | The absolute monarchy in 18th-century France was in a major crisis, which caused the big revoliution of France (1789-1794) |
| Author's name surname, grade | Rusnė Kasperavičiūtė, 16 Years old , IIf |
| Educational institution | Kauno Maironio university gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „The space race“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | The 20th century Soviet-American "space race" |
| The characters depicted | The Soviet Union and America. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Soviet Union - a human figure with a hammer and sickle. America - a human figure with an American flag. Finish - the moon. |
| Performance technique | Graphic technique (black pen) |
| Historical context | The caricature illustrates the 20th century "Space race" between the Soviet Union and the United States. The race is regarded as having begun in 1957, when the USSR launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. It concluded in 1975 with the cooperative Apollo-Soyuz mission, marking a moment of improved relations between the two superpowers. The major breakthrough was he historic 1969 Moon landing by American astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Because of this landmark achievement, the United States is often considered the winner of the Space Race—symbolized by their leading position in the caricature. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Rustamas Vitkauskas, 15m, Ic |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Juozas Grušas Art Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Napoleonic era |
| The main idea of the caricature | Warlord |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon the Great |
| The symbols and their meaning | Portrait and text |
| Performance technique | Mascara |
| Historical context | Napoleon's campaign in Russia was the invasion of the Russian Empire by the French Grand Army led by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812. In 1812, Russia opened its ports to British ships. Napoleon, wishing to force the Russians to accept the blockade and prevent their invasion of the Duchy of Warsaw, sent the Grand Army against them - about 650,000 soldiers. On June 23, 1812, Napoleon's forces crossed the Nemunas River near Kaunas. On June 28, Napoleon captured Vilnius, and on July 1, Napoleon established a provisional government commission that administered the Vilnius, Grodno, Minsk governorates, and the Białystok region. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Saulė Gedminaitė, Ig |
| Educational institution | LSMU gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „Propaganda Warfare“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | The cartoon satirizes U.S. propaganda efforts against the Soviet Union, implying that the U.S. uses words (instead of weapons) as a tool of ideological attack. |
| The characters depicted | Uncle Sam: Represents the United States, shown laughing and seemingly mocking the Soviet figure. Soviet Figure: Dressed in a suit with a hammer and sickle emblem, representing the USSR, appearing defenseless or overwhelmed. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Missiles labeled “AHA”: Represent verbal attacks, possibly propaganda, directed at the USSR. Hammer and Sickle: Symbolizes the Soviet Union. Uncle Sam’s attire: Represents the U.S., known from political cartoons. |
| Performance technique | Black and white drawing highlighted with marker |
| Historical context | This caricature reflects the Cold War (1947–1991), a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Instead of direct military confrontation, both superpowers engaged in ideological, political, and economic battles, including propaganda wars. The image likely represents how the U.S. used media, satire, and rhetoric to undermine Soviet ideology.During this era, the U.S. frequently criticized the Soviet Union for its authoritarian regime, lack of freedoms, and economic struggles, while the USSR portrayed the U.S. as an imperialist aggressor. Western countries, particularly the U.S., spread anti-communist messages through films, newspapers, and radio broadcasts such as Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. Meanwhile, the USSR responded with its own propaganda against capitalism and Western policies. The caricature symbolizes this war of words, with Uncle Sam laughing and launching verbal missiles (“AHA”) at the Soviet figure, who appears overwhelmed. It highlights the role of mockery, humor, and information campaigns in Cold War conflicts, demonstrating that ideological dominance was as crucial as military strength. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Saulė Budrytė, 9 grade |
| Educational institution | Mažeikių Merkelio Račkausko Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Tyrant overthrown |
| The main idea of the caricature | The government is temporary. |
| The characters depicted | Robespierre and people |
| The symbols and their meaning | The Fall of the Bastille is a symbol of the beginning of the French Revolution, the guillotine is a symbol of the extermination of the impaled during the Jacobin reign, the guillotine of Robespierre is a symbol of the end of the Jacobin reign |
| Performance technique | coloring with markers |
| Historical context | The end of the Jacobin rule of the French Revolution |
| Author's name surname, grade | SAVCHENKO OLEKSANDR, II GIMAZIJOS KLASĖ |
| Educational institution | ŠIAULIŲ „SAULĖTEKIO“ GIMNAZIJA |
| Title of the caricature | „BALANCE OF POWER“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | CARIBBEAN CRISIS |
| The characters depicted | NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV, JOHN F. KENNEDY |
| The symbols and their meaning | LIBRA – BALANCE OF POWER IN CONFLICT |
| Performance technique | GRAPHICS (BLACK PEN, PAPER) |
| Historical context | COLD WAR. CARIBBEAN CRISI |
| Author's name surname, grade | Mishchenko Sofia 15 years old, 2nd grade |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | Domino Effect |
| The main idea of the caricature | Assassination of Franz Ferdinand = Beginning of World War I |
| The characters depicted | Franz Ferdinand, Gavrilo Princip |
| The symbols and their meaning | On the left side of the painting is the moment of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination by Gavrilo Princip. Next, there is a line of dominoes representing the chain of events that led to World War I. The dots on the dominoes are not randomly colored — they feature the colors of the flags of the countries that entered the war (Hungary, Serbia, Germany, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Montenegro, Japan, Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, and so on). Finally, on the right side, there are war-related objects symbolizing the consequences of Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. |
| Performance technique | Markers, pencil, black pen |
| Historical context | World War I - was a global armed conflict that lasted from July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Sofiia Trynkal, 9th grade. |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | «Munich Agreement – A Peace That Led to War» |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature shows how the agreement in Munich in 1938 created the illusion of peace. Leaders thought they had reached an agreement with Hitler, but in fact he was already planning to start World War II. |
| The characters depicted | – Adolf Hitler – two politicians |
| The symbols and their meaning | 1. The Munich Agreement: a symbol of diplomatic compromise that didn't work. 2. Hitler's thought cloud: his real war plan hidden under the mask of peace. 3. Swastika: a symbol of Nazi ideology and aggression. 4. Time 00:00: the moment when the war had not yet begun, but Hitler's plan was already in place the calm before the storm. |
| Performance technique | colored pencils, black pen. |
| Historical context | The Munich Agreement was signed in September 1938 by the leaders of Britain, France, Italy and Nazi Germany. It allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia without the consent of the Czechoslovak government. European leaders thought it would prevent war and keep the peace, but the agreement only fueled Hitler's ambitions. Less than a year later, in 1939, Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II. The Munich Agreement came to symbolize a failed policy of appeasement. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Tajus, Kilčiauskas, 16 year old, 10 grade |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus University „Rasos“ gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Size doesn‘t matter |
| The main idea of the caricature | Childish comparison of weapons knowing their destructive power |
| The characters depicted | Nikita Khrushchev, John F. Kennedy |
| The symbols and their meaning | Hydrogen bombs – their destructive power |
| Performance technique | Graphics |
| Historical context | Nuclear Arms Race in 1950s JFK and Khrushchev almost started a nuclear war, which would have killed billions and ended human civilization as we know it. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Ugnė Garbaravičiūtė, devinta klasė |
| Educational institution | Kauno jėzuitų gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | “Behind closed doors” |
| The main idea of the caricature | How glorified leaders can be a completely different person from the insiders perspective. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte (upper half), Josephine Bonaparte (lower right) |
| The symbols and their meaning | Napoleon being significantly bigger than Josephine and being drawn higher than her - portrays his supreme power and control over his beloved Josephine; caged pigeon - pigeon, a symbol of purity, piece, locked in a cage over Josephine's head symbolises her inability to escape Napoleon's perfect cage (perfect being portrayed by the sophisticated design of the furniture); Napoleon standing on a stone - a power pose, symbolises his abundance of power; Josephine's slumping - her slumped pose portrays her hopelessness and surrender to her husband. |
| Performance technique | Graphic, drawn using graphite, text written with a technical drawing pen. |
| Historical context | Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor of France from 1804 - 1814/15, he is considered one of the greatest military leaders in history. Josephine de Beauharnais - Napoleon's first wife. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Uliana Chencheva, 15 years old, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region |
| Title of the caricature | Unification of Germany 1871 |
| The main idea of the caricature | Bismarck is uniting the German states into one empire, symbolizing political strength and strategic diplomacy |
| The characters depicted | Otto von Bismarck in military uniform and gloves. Germany’s state as a humanized map |
| The symbols and their meaning | Rope symbolizes the binding force of unification through wars and diplomacy |
| Performance technique | Pencil |
| Historical context | In 1871, Bismarck led Prussia in uniting Germany through wars with Austria and France, proclaiming the German Empire in Versailles. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Urtė Juočaitė, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | LSMU gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | “Feast of the Foes“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | This caricature shows Napoleon and William Pitt the Younger sitting at a table, not to negotiate peace, but to divide up the world like its dinner. It is how powerful leaders treat the planet and the people on it, as something to slice and claim for themselves. Instead of working together or caring for what’s on the table, they’re locked in a quiet but ruthless competition. |
| The characters depicted | William Pitt the Younger and Napoleon Bonaparte |
| The symbols and their meaning | The globe on the plate (It symbolizes imperialism and the idea that powerful nations see the planet as theirs to control). The utensils (They’re not using swords or guns - just forks and knives. It looks polite, even civilized, but they’re still dividing up the world. It’s a quiet kind of conquest, the kind that doesn’t need blood to do damage.) |
| Performance technique | The make the scene look calm and perfect. |
| Historical context | Napoleon Bonaparte (ruled France) and William Pitt the Younger (the Prime Minister of Britain), two powerful leaders from the late 1700s and early 1800s, sitting at a dinner table. But instead of sharing a meal, they’re carving up the Earth like it’s food on a plate. France and Britain were major rivals, constantly at war, especially during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). But their battles weren’t only about Europe. They were also fighting over land and resources in other parts of the world, like Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Both countries were trying to build empires and take control of as much territory as possible. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Urte Pekauskaite, 1D |
| Educational institution | Mažeikių Merkelio Račkausko gimnazija |
| Title of the caricature | Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact |
| The main idea of the caricature | The irony behind the non-agression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin |
| The symbols and their meaning | White pigeon - a symbol of piece between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union |
| Performance technique | Graphic |
| Historical context | On August 23rd, 1939, a non-agression pact was signed by the Foreign Ministers of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, though it was later broken by the latter. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Vaiva Stonytė, 10 grade |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus University ,,Rasos“ gimnasium |
| Title of the caricature | A new map according to the Nazi regime |
| The main idea of the caricature | A. Hitler‘s attack on Europe |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler |
| The symbols and their meaning | A man with guns and uniform – Adolf Hitler. Behind him is a map of Europe.Counties, marked in red – coutries occupied by Nazi Germany |
| Performance technique | Drawing |
| Historical context | In 1933 A. Hitler came to power in Germany. His goal was – greater Germany (The Aryan Empire covered most of Europe) |
| Author's name surname, grade | VAKARĖ DAPKUTĖ, I D |
| Educational institution | Jurbarkas Antanas Giedraitis-Giedrius gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Hitler poison |
| The main idea of the caricature | Hitler‘s evil thougts an words spread like poison and became reality by starting a war against Poland. |
| The characters depicted | Nazi Germany leader Adolf Hitler, Polish leader Ignacy Mościcki |
| The symbols and their meaning | Svastica-symbol of Nazi Germany; Snake tongue-evil; Liner ornament with sharp corners simbolizes attack. |
| Performance technique | Graphic pens |
| Historical context | German invasion of Poland 1939 September 1 |
| Author's name surname, grade | Vanesa Ročkaitė, Pre-IB 1 |
| Educational institution | Kaunas jesuit high school |
| Title of the caricature | "Napoleon escapes from Elba" |
| The main idea of the caricature | It depicts Napoleons escape from exile and his want to return to his homeland of France while showcasing his arrogant and rather angry stance that suggested that he was not planning on staying away from power. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte |
| The symbols and their meaning | Island with an italian flag since Elba, the island Napoleon was exiled to, was in Italy. A boat which has no particular meaning except for being used for the escape. |
| Performance technique | The use of various black graphic markers and pens |
| Historical context | On the evening of the 26th of February 1815, the Emperor Napoleon silently escaped from his exile on the island of Elba, where he had resided since his ultimate defeat in 1814 at the hands of the sixth coalition of European forces, who were once again determined to check the power of the French Empire. Napoleon had been exiled via the stipulations of the Treaty of Fontainebleau, signed by Allied powers on the 11th April 1814, which ruled that the Emperor, whilst retaining his title and rank, would hold ‘complete sovereignty and ownership’ of the island of Elba for the remainder of his life. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Viltė Balčiūnaitė, 15, Preib1 |
| Educational institution | Kaunas jesuit highschool |
| Title of the caricature | Who have I not conquered? |
| The main idea of the caricature | It shows Napaleon’s greedness to cntrol all of Europe. |
| The characters depicted | Napaleon, his troop |
| The symbols and their meaning | Giant map – represents Napoleon's desire for total domination Soldier’s tired look – symbolizes how much Napaleon’s army already fought Napoleon’s confident pose – symbolizes pride and arrogance |
| Performance technique | Hand-drawn cartoon with coloring pencils |
| Historical context | In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor and began expanding his empire, aiming to dominate Europe through military conquest. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Viltė Baršytė 15, class 9m. |
| Educational institution | Klaipėda Vydūnas gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „The cart of freedom through the ruin of serfdom“ |
| The main idea of the caricature | The caricature shows how Napoleon ended serfdom in many parts of Europe and what happened to the peasants afterwards. Even though they were legally freed, their lives remained difficult. They had to pay for the land, ask the lord for permission to move, and follow new farming rules. Some people ran away or moved to other regions. The freedom they received brought new problems, sometimes even harder than life under serfdom. |
| The characters depicted | The characters holding the flag symbolize the countries where serfdom was abolished. |
| The symbols and their meaning | Napoleon’s Hat – power, greatness, inspiration of the French Revolution. White Horse – power, status, independence. The Cart – old system, peasant labor, the journey from serfdom. Peasants in the Cart – injustice, control, exploitation. Peasants’ Happiness – symbolizes uncertainty: what awaits the newly freed? Flags – countries where serfdom was abolished (Germany, Spain, France). The Road – movement toward personal responsibility after serfdom. |
| Performance technique | The caricature is drawn with colored pencils and a black gel pen. It includes geographical contours (map), symbolic composition. |
| Historical context | During the Napoleonic Wars, especially at the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon spread the ideas of the French Revolution to other European countries. One of the most important reforms was the abolition of serfdom. This major social change affected countries such as Germany, Poland, and Spain. Peasants became legally free, but in reality, their lives rarely became easier. After serfdom was abolished, former peasants faced many challenges. To work their land, they had to buy it, but most of them did not have enough money. In many regions, they still had to ask their former lord for permission to leave or to move to another place. New duties appeared, such as paying taxes, joining the army, and dealing with a lack of workers. Some peasants, disappointed by these conditions, decided to emigrate or run away. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Vilte Marija Braskyte, 16 years old, 10th grade |
| Educational institution | Molėtai gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | A.Hiler‘s dangerous gamble |
| The main idea of the caricature | Hitler treats the lives of Jewish people and those of other nations as if they were toys in his cruel game, taking pleasure in killing them. |
| The characters depicted | Caricature’s main character is Adolph Hitler. He is portrayed as an angry character - Prince Lemon, the police officer, one of the characters from animated movie “Cipollino”, which also mocks political system. The side characters are Cipollino, Cactus and Professor Pear. |
| The symbols and their meaning | The swastika- symbol on Hitler’s hand represents Nazism. Star of David represents Jewish people and arcade machines symbolize nations which were genocided. |
| Performance technique | Markers, black pen and color pencils |
| Historical context | Caricature is inspired by World War II, more specifically Holocaust 1933 – 1945 when A. Hitler carried out Holocaust. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Viltė Riaubaitė, 16 years old, 9th grade. |
| Educational institution | Šiauliai University Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | A March Without End |
| The main idea of the caricature | In the current political situation, when addressing the issue of Ukraine, it seems that history is repeating Napoleon's failure in Russia. |
| The characters depicted | Napoleon Bonaparte and Donald Trump |
| The symbols and their meaning | The fallen horse symbolizes Napoleon's failed battle in Russia. The stars represent Napoleon's successful career up until the march in Russia. The map of Russia – the Russian Empire. The bicorne hat – helps to identify Napoleon. The swirls of winding lines – uncertainty. |
| Performance technique | Mixed technique |
| Historical context | Napoleon, after successful victories, suffered a crushing defeat in Russia, which foreshadowed the end of his career. In modern times, it seems that history is repeating itself. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Viltė Švedaitė, 15 years, 9th grade |
| Educational institution | Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | „”Uprising: Collectable edition” |
| The main idea of the caricature | Political cartoon illustrates the 1830-1831 uprising. It shows the reasons why uprising was defeated and exceptional part of Emilija Pliaterytė in it. |
| The characters depicted | Emilija Pliaterytė - a noblewoman and national heroine of the 1830 -1831 uprising against the Russian Empire |
| The symbols and their meaning | The Russian nesting dolls (matryoshka )- different reasons why uprising was defeated: disagreements among the rebels (as Polish side is separated from Lthuanian); The noble holding peasant – nobels didn’t wanted to give peasantry freedom from serfdom, so peasantry was little involves in participation). Belgium flag and guns under doll – Belgium, which had declared independence from the Netherlands in 1830, received more attention from Western European powers : no support from Western powers to Russia, but also no support to Polish – Lithuanian uprisers. The smallest but the strongest doll – Emilija Pliaterytė. She has sword in her hand meaning she still whiling to fight. The hand of Russian Tsar Nicholas I putting Emilija Pliaterytė back into the other Matryoshkas. |
| Performance technique | Coloured gel markers, black pencils |
| Historical context | The 1830–1831 Uprising was a national movement against the Russian Empire. It started in Poland and soon spread to Lithuania and Belarus. The main goal of the uprising was to restore independence and freedom from Russian control. The uprising failed because the Russian Empire had a much stronger army. The rebels lacked weapons, military experience, and foreign support. European countries did not help the uprising because they were dealing with their own problems. At that time, Western Europe was more focused on supporting Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. One of the most famous participants of the uprising was Emilija Pliaterytė. She was a brave noblewoman who led a group of rebels in Lithuania. Emilija Pliaterytė became a symbol of courage and patriotism in the fight for freedom. |
| Author's name surname, grade | Viltė, Bartkutė, 17 year old, 10 grade |
| Educational institution | Vytautas Magnus University ,,Rasos“ gymnasium |
| Title of the caricature | Hitler and Stalin are scooping up bloody Europe |
| The main idea of the caricature | The cartoon criticizes the secret agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union to divide Europe, especially Poland, as if it were a dish. The cartoon clearly shows the human suffering that resulted from this pact. |
| The characters depicted | Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin |
| The symbols and their meaning | Map - symbolizes the territories of Europe that are divided, Bloody Pot - Europe, Hand with Nazi symbol – Hitler, Hand with a star symbol – Stalin, Torn document - Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. |
| Performance technique | Drawing |
| Historical context | The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed on August 23, 1939, between Nazi Germany and the USSR. The secret protocols provided for the division of Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. This pact paved the way for Germany to start World War II. |
