ArchivesSpace at the University of Iowa

The drawing depicts two stylized soldiers in its center part. There is a listing of words with the stem, bouc-, on the upper left side and the stem, ecu- on the upper right side. There is dense micrographic writing on the lower left and right corners. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This package includes nine pages of hand printed poetry (eight poems) and seven line drawings. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This surrealistic work by Hoffmeister achieves its visual impact by inversion of an anatomic section of the lungs and the connection of the trachea to two industrial tool objects (for making weapons?) to form the letter 'Y." It is balanced on either side by an inverted, anatomic image of the larynx and the profile of a soldier wearing a protective eye mask as well as a mouth mask connected with tubing to an ill defined cannister, presumably as protection against poisonous gas. The poem might be interpreted as Why ('Y') do we have to wars that kill with poisonous gas? -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.