Art & Poetry

On art: Today is the birthday of German Expressionist artist Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945). She specialized in woodcuts depicting the suffering of ordinary people after the First World War with the anti-war message of Krieg Nie Wieder (never again war).

On poetry: British poet Percy Bysshe Shelley died on this day in 1822. His poem Ozymandias remains a warning to the power seekers:

And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings;
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.