Karl Goetz Medal – Kienast 171: “General Cadorna (Sisyphus on the Isonzo)

Karl Goetz Medal - Kienast 171: "General Cadorna (Sisyphus on the Isonzo)" (1915-16)

A sharp and humorous example of Karl Goetz's wartime satire, Kienast 171, titled "General Cadorna (Sisyphus am Isonzo)", lampoons Italian Chief of Staff General Luigi Cadorna and his controversial explanations for Italy's repeated failures along the Isonzo River during World War I. According to German accounts, Cadorna allegedly blamed massive casualties on bad weather—a remark Goetz found ripe for ridicule.

The obverse bears the inscription:

"Cadorna, Italien Chief of Staff."

Goetz often caricatured military and political leaders, and here he presents Cadorna as the embodiment of futile leadership and hollow excuses.

The reverse inscription reads:

"Sisyphus at the Isonzo, 1915-16."

This mythological comparison is central to the satire: like Sisyphus, eternally condemned to push a boulder uphill only for it to roll back down, the Italian army under Cadorna launched eleven Isonzo offensives with minimal territorial gain and staggering human loss. Goetz uses this imagery to portray the campaigns as hopeless, repetitive, and catastrophically mismanaged.

Cast in 58 mm, the medal showcases Goetz's signature mix of biting wit, symbolic storytelling, and fine sculptural detail—turning military history into pointed artistic commentary.

Key Features:

• Artist: Karl Goetz

• Catalog reference: Kienast 171 / Opus 171

• Title: "General Cadorna (Sisyphus on the Isonzo)"

• Years depicted: 1915-1916

• Diameter: 58 mm

• Theme: WWI satire, Italian military leadership, Isonzo offensives

Kienast 171 stands out as one of Goetz's most clever wartime caricatures—an essential medal for collectors interested in WWI propaganda, Italian campaign history, or the incisive humor that characterizes Goetz's finest work.