The bitter solution

Description

This allegorical drawing shows Italy (the woman on the left of the image) and the city of Fiume (the girl on the right) running towards each other. US President Woodrow Wilson stands between them, while an Austrian soldier steps forward from the back of the image. The status of Fiume (now in Croatia, and known as Rijeka) was contested after World War One, with Yugoslavia and Italy both laying claim to it. President Wilson acted as the arbiter in the dispute.

It was created by Filiberto Scarpelli and published in the newspaper Il Travaso Delle Idee on 8 June 1919. Il Travaso was a popular satirical weekly journal, which represented a lone voice during World War One. In particular it argued against censorship, and criticised the Italian government and the Allies, especially President Wilson, who was seen as naive or a hypocritical moralist. Using the tools of satire, Il Travaso expressed the dissatisfaction of the Italian bourgeoisie toward the liberal ruling class, as well as a deep anti-socialism.