George Biddle, German Prisoners

This painting depicts German officers captured by American forces in Tunisia. They stare at each other, face to face, a composition Biddle used in earlier double portraits. The artist included the work in his book War Drawings, his caption underscoring the Germans’ unyielding arrogance:

It was not you that whipped us, but your artillery. We were without air coverage. Man to man we are worth six of you. Max knocked out Joe Louis once. Beware the return match. Fools! This time you tricked us. But we are preparing for den Tag, den nächsten Krieg!