Wafa' al-Gartasi
Battle
Africa, Libya
1978/79
Wax and pencil drawing on paper
Donated to the museum by the Libya-GDR Friendship Association in 1984
NAf 5857
This children's drawing depicts a battle involving tanks, foot soldiers, paratroopers, helicopters, and airplanes. One of the tanks depicts the “Falcon of Quraysh,” which was part of the Libyan coat of arms from 1972 until Gaddafi's government was overthrown in 2011.
Following the scientific cooperation between the museum and the Libyan Studies Center in Tripoli, representatives of the museum made several research trips to Libya in the 1980s. In 1984, the museum received a large donation from the Libya-GDR Friendship Association. In addition to several copies of Muammar Gaddafi's so-called “Green Book,” the donation included a series of children's drawings documenting life in Libya. The drawings depicted everyday scenes such as work, school, and sports, as well as political demonstrations and, in this case, military actions.
Frank Usbeck