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Author's name surname, grade	Aaron John A. Corpuz, 16 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“Playground War: An Untouched Truth”
The main idea of the caricature	Is to showcase an untouched debatable idea about the Cold War (1945-1991) that the war was immature, egoic/pride centric, and that it was an unnecessary war, which proves that they are immature politically and their actions do not benefit the people whom the government should be serving.
The characters depicted	USA baby – represents the United States and its Cold War leaders. The USA was a democratic capitalist superpower that competed with the USSR for global influence, military power, and ideological dominance. USSR baby – represents the Soviet Union and its Cold War leaders. The USSR was a communist superpower that competed with the USA for power, allies, nuclear weapons, and world leadership.
The symbols and their meaning	-The mat symbolizes that the environment is a playground -The two babies- USA baby and USSR baby show the main players of the cold war -The two babies crying symbolizes crocodile tears and their eagerness and despair to win the cold war and become the number 1 country globally -The position of the babies also corresponds with their ideologies with USSR being an extreme left wing while USA being a right wing -The tilt on the left side symbolizes that the USSR was failing to keep up with USA and is starting to lose due to economic failure -Another reason of the tilt was the sustained growth of the economy of the USA -The cards, blocks, circles, and milk bottle symbolize all the resources each country has, showing that the USA had more compared to USSR -The bombs and rockets in the bottom symbolize the idea that military power especially nuclear bombs and technological advancement were the backbone of the war and pretty much decided the winner of the war -The babies holding the missiles tightly symbolizes that this is their way to pressure and threat each other and they can use this as their last resort to win the war -The dreams almost shaped like the shape of their country symbolizes the alibi used by the presidents to justify their actions was for the nation and not for any other selfish reasons -The shadowy and dark theme represents the idea that this bigger picture is rarely discussed when people are learning about the cold war and this idea is simply collecting dust waiting to be explored
Performance technique	-Although caricatures must be portrayed typically with concise exaggeration and meaning, I intentionally drew a lot of symbols and some even have double meanings since I want to challenge traditional boundaries of caricatures and maximize my ability to criticize the war and the impact of my drawing to the viewers -Shadowing technique is the only one used here because I wanted to emphasize that this specific theme hasn’t been studied deeply which is why it wasn’t worthy to have colors.
Historical context	The Cold War was a political, ideological, and military rivalry between the USA and the USSR after World War II. Both superpowers competed for influence, allies, weapons, and global and ideological dominance.

Author's name surname, grade	Agnė Bernotaitė 15 years old 9th grade
Educational institution	VMU “Rasos” gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“The birth of commercial cinema”
The main idea of the caricature	Frightened people seeing the most popular Lumiere Brothers movie “The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station”.
The characters depicted	The first audience to see a set of films.
The symbols and their meaning	The up-to-date movie theater represents that this historical event happened not so long ago, making it quite modern. The vintage cinema sign shows the information of the movie.
Performance technique	Mixed (painting and pencil).
Historical context	French inventors Auguste and Louis Lumiere, widely known as the Lumiere brothers created a revolutionary device that could shoot, print and project motion pictures. The very first movie screening took place on December 28, 1895, at Grand Café in Paris, France. It played a set of ten short films in black and white. These included everyday scenes, such as the iconic “The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station”. This 50 second silent documentary film featured a train arriving at a station which startled many viewers because they believed it was real. The famous legend claims that the first audiences panicked, screamed and fled the theater, fearing the on-screen train was going to crash into them.

Author's name surname, grade	Agota Motiejūnaitė, 16 metų, 1gB
Educational institution	LSMU gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Napoleon versus the World
The main idea of the caricature	For 15 years he wanted to rule the World and believed that eventually – he would.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonapart and the planet Earth.
The symbols and their meaning	In the carricature we can see Napoleon – the once French-loved leader, standing on the very top of the planet. His shadow falls on Earth as he looks forward, - not down,- forward. He holds a sword – symbolizing the battles he fought. There are small fires all over the planet – the fire lies, where the battles happened. His hat tells us that he doesn‘t care about us, or, in fact, other people – he bravely wears an extravagant hat in hard times – he knows what he wants and he doesn‘t care where he‘ll go to get it.
Performance technique	Pencil, gel pen, Water colour pencils.
Historical context	Back in 1799, after the French Revolution, the nation yearned for a new and fair leader. Bonapart overthrew the unpopular French Directory government and secured his spot. In 1804, he called himself the Emperor and nobody dared to disagree. He brought back victories but, over time, his men got tired. The breaking point came in 1812 when he decided to step foot into Russia‘s territory. Later, on his deathbed, he said, that it was the worst decision of his entire life. His army was cold and hungry and eventually gave up. He knew that his management period was over, but he wanted to make the most of it. After being deployed to Elba, he came back and ruled for a hundred consecutive days, before being sent off to St. Helena‘s island where he died. To this day, some French people consider him a hero and a great leader.

Author's name surname, grade	Aleksandra Sabeva, 16 years old, 10b grade
Educational institution	Profiled High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics ‘Acad. Nikola Obreshkov’ -Burgas
Title of the caricature	The End of an Era: A Shot That Shattered Europe
The main idea of the caricature	The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand did not only kill a man — it shattered the fragile balance of Europe and triggered World War I.
The characters depicted	Archduke Franz Ferdinand Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg Symbolic soldiers and war silhouettes hidden in the cracks
The symbols and their meaning	The bullet → the beginning of the catastrophe The crack spreading across Europe → the chain reaction leading to war Europe as broken glass → the fragility of peace and political balance Hidden soldiers and crosses → the inevitable future destruction and death The fallen hat → the collapse of the old European order and imperial power Dark clouds→ the shadow of war approaching Europe
Performance technique	Graphic drawing, hand-drawn with symbolic composition, strong contrast, dramatic shading, and metaphorical imagery to emphasize tension, destruction, and historical impact.
Historical context	The End of an Era: A Shot That Shattered Europe On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian nationalist group “The Black Hand.” This event became the immediate cause of World War I and marked the collapse of the fragile peace in Europe. At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe was divided by political tensions, imperial rivalries, militarism, and complex alliance systems between the major powers. The assassination triggered a chain reaction: Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, while alliances quickly drew Germany, Russia, France, and Great Britain into the conflict. World War I became one of the deadliest wars in history, causing millions of deaths and widespread destruction. The war led to the collapse of powerful empires such as Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, the German Empire, and the Russian Empire. It also changed Europe politically, socially, and economically, marking the end of the old world order and the beginning of a new and uncertain era.

Author's name surname, grade	Arijielė Arminaitytė, 15 years old, 9 grade
Educational institution	VDU “Rasos” Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“The Cold War: A World Divided”
The main idea of the caricature	This caricature shows how the Cold War divided the world into two different sides – the USA and the Soviet Union. The two leaders are arm wrestling because both countries wanted power and influence. Even though they did not fight directly, there was a lot of tension, fear, and competition. The cracked Earth shows that the conflict affected the whole world.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam (representing the United States) Joseph Stalin (representing the Soviet Union) Symbols of the Western and Eastern political blocks
The symbols and their meaning	The dove represents peace and hope. The cracked Earth symbolizes a divided world and global tension. The rockets represent military power and fear of nuclear war. The “Iron Curtain” symbolizes the division between Eastern and Western Europe. The flags represent different political ideologies: capitalism and communism.
Performance technique	Hand drawing using colored pencils.
Historical context	The Cold War was a political and ideological conflict between the USA and the Soviet Union after World War II. It lasted from 1947 to 1991. The world became divided into two sides: capitalist countries led by the USA and communist countries led by the USSR. Although there was no direct war.

Author's name surname, grade	Arminas Kravčenko 16 metų 9-ta klasė
Educational institution	VDU Rasos gimnazija
Title of the caricature	The Cold War – Superpower Confrontation
The main idea of the caricature	The artwork shows the intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Both superpowers are engaged in a dangerous strategic game over global dominance, using military force and nuclear weapons, while innocent civilians (represented by frightened children) suffer in fear beneath the table, highlighting the human cost of this conflict.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam (personification of the USA) Soviet military general/officer (personification of the USSR) White dove holding an olive branch with a NATO flag (symbol of peace) Scared children hiding under the table (ordinary people / future generations)
The symbols and their meaning	Chessboard placed on a world map – The entire world is a playing field for the two superpowers. Chess pieces replaced by missiles, tanks, and soldiers – Militarization and the arms race. Nuclear mushroom clouds in the background – Threat of nuclear war and mutual destruction. Children hiding under the table – Vulnerability and fear of ordinary civilians. Dove with NATO flag – Weak or symbolic Western peace efforts. “PEACE” sign – Irony, as true peace is fragile and ignored.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn illustration using colored pencils/markers. Detailed political satire style with rich symbolism.
Historical context	This drawing depicts the Cold War period (1947–1991), the nuclear arms race between the USA and USSR, and crises such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It criticizes how the rivalry between the two superpowers turned the planet into a dangerous battlefield, endangering the lives of millions of innocent people.

Author's name surname, grade	Astijus B, 1D, 15 years.
Educational institution	Šiauliai Stasis Šalkauskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Me too
The main idea of the caricature	Both sides threatens to start a war, however they fear the consequences, as both have the H-bomb.
The characters depicted	USA, USSR
The symbols and their meaning	Rockets – military strength and power Man with uniforms – leaders of USA and USSR.
Performance technique	Mixed technique
Historical context	Fearing nuclear war, USA and USSR competed for global influence but avoided direct combat, keeping the war "cold".

Author's name surname, grade	Augustė, Tautvydaitė, 16m. Ig.A
Educational institution	Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto gimnazija
Title of the caricature	“Seated on Borrowed Backbones”
The main idea of the caricature	This caricature mocks Mikhail Muravyov for his cruel actions while suppressing the 1863–1864 uprising in Lithuania and Poland. It shows him as a ruthless ruler who used fear, executions, and violence to destroy the fight for freedom. The drawing criticizes his abuse of power and presents him as responsible for many deaths.
The characters depicted	Mikhail Muravyov – the main figure, sitting proudly in a chair. Executed rebels (leaders of the uprising)– hanging in the background as victims of repression. People in the distance – symbolizing frightened society and the power Russian military used to maintain their oder .
The symbols and their meaning	Skulls and bones – represent death and suffering caused by Muravyov’s policies. Gallows with hanged rebels – symbolize executions and brutal punishment. Military uniform and medals – show Muravyov’s authority and pride in his actions. Large chair/throne – symbolizes power and dictatorship. The sign “Freedom- Death” – represents that no matter the outcome, the result of any insubordinance is punishable by death .
Performance technique	The work is created in a hand-drawn caricature style using ink and colored pencils/watercolor. Dark shades and exaggerated features are used to create a dramatic and critical mood.
Historical context	The January Uprising was a major revolt against Russian rule in the lands of Poland, Lithuania, and surrounding regions. One of the key figures in the suppression of the uprising in Lithuania was Mikhail Muravyov, who was appointed Governor-General of Vilnius in 1863. His role was to restore imperial control over the region after the outbreak of guerrilla resistance. Muravyov used strict military force to defeat the insurgents. He ordered mass arrests, executions, and deportations to Siberia. Historical research shows that around thousands of participants and supporters were punished during his administration. He also introduced harsh measures against local society, including heavy fines on estates linked to the rebellion and stronger control over public life. In addition, Muravyov’s policies contributed to the wider process of Russification in Lithuania. The use of the Lithuanian language in print was restricted, and political and cultural institutions were brought under tighter imperial supervision. Although the uprising was eventually crushed, Muravyov’s actions left a lasting historical memory as a symbol of repression in the region’s struggle for national identity and independence.

Author's name surname, grade	Auksė Jasčenskaitė, 16 metų, 1 gimnazijos klasė
Educational institution	Klaipėda „Aukuras“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	A Kingdom Going Down
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon criticizes social inequality in France before the French Revolution. While peasants work and suffer, the king and nobles ignore the country’s collapse.
The characters depicted	King Louis XVI French nobles Peasants / Third Estate
The symbols and their meaning	Sinking ship - collapsing France; Storm “Revolution” - coming French Revolution; Sleeping king - ignorance and incompetence; Dancing nobles - selfish aristocracy; Exhausted rowers - suffering Third Estate; Water entering the ship - economic and social crisis.
Performance technique	Black ink pen and pencil drawing
Historical context	Before the French Revolution, peasants suffered from poverty and taxes while the king and nobles ignored France’s growing crisis.

Author's name surname, grade	Aurėja Slaninaitė, 16m., IID
Educational institution	VDU „Rasos“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“The Chessboard of Europe“
The main idea of the caricature	WW2 power struggle over Europe
The characters depicted	J. Stalin, W. Churchill, F. F. Roosevelt
The symbols and their meaning	Chess – war strategy; bulldog – Britain; bear – USSR; eagle – USA; collapsing map – destruction.
Performance technique	Graphite drawing technique
Historical context	WW2 struggle for control of Europe. The chessboard symbolises military strategy, alliances, and conflict between Allies and Nazi Germany.

Author's name surname, grade	AURĖJA LUKAŠEVIČIŪTĖ
Educational institution	Kauno Jono Pauliaus II gimnazija
Title of the caricature	„Moscow burring, along with hope“
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea of caricature is to show Napoleon’s despair and failure during his invasion of Russia in 1812. He expected a quick victory and a peace offer from Tsar, but instead, he found Moscow in flames and realised his campaign was ruined.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte – the Emperor of France, depicted as sad, crying, and completely lost.
The symbols and their meaning	The burning Moscow symbolizes Russian resistance and the destruction of Napoleon‘s plans. The snow symbolizes the harsh Russian winter and approaching defeat. The tears symbolize regret, hopelessness, and realization of his mistake.
Performance technique	Colored and graphite pencils on paper.
Historical context	In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia and took Moscow. However, Russians burned the city and refused to surrender. Without a peace offer and facing winter, his army was trapped.

Author's name surname, grade	Austėja Lukošaitytė, 16y, IAkl.
Educational institution	VDU „Rasos“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	„I don‘t want the biggest slice, I want the whole cake!”
The main idea of the caricature	Napoleon seeks to conquer all of Europe and part it into the French Empire.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte, the representatives of Great Britain, the Russian Empire, and the Kingdom of Prussia
The symbols and their meaning	Europe as a cake – territories Cake slice – desire for more land Colorful Europe – life, value Gray leaders – lack of humanity Knives/sword – aggression
Performance technique	Colored and graphite pencils
Historical context	In the early 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte aimed to expand the French Empire and dominate Europe.

Author's name surname, grade	Austėja Meilutytė, 16 years old, 10 grade
Educational institution	Vytautas Magnus University "Rasos" gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The Cold War Kitchen
The main idea of the caricature	The Cold War was a game of mutual paranoia. While maintaining officially polite relations, both superpowers secretly used propaganda and disinformation behind the scenes to fuel deep distrust toward each other.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam, Nikita Khrushchev
The symbols and their meaning	Uncle Sam represents the US government, actively controlling and “cooking up” the American narrative. Nikita Khrushchev represents the Soviet regime, personally managing state ideology and decisions. Jars behind their backs symbolize media spin and censorship. Spice jars symbolize NATO and Warsaw Pact military alliances. Doomsday Clock represents the constant threat of global nuclear catastrophe.
Performance technique	Black gel pen, coloured pencils
Historical context	The height of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race, when both superpowers weaponized media propaganda and censorship to maintain control over public fear.

Author's name surname, grade	Austėja Tamašauskaitė, 16 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Failed experiment
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea of the caricature is that the Treaty of Versailles and the failure of collective security helped create political instability in Europe. Hitler used German anger about Versailles and the weakness of international diplomacy to gain support, challenge the post-war settlement, and begin aggressive expansion, which later contributed to the outbreak of World War II.
The characters depicted	Adolf Hitler (figurine in the tube) - Nazi leader of Germany, who came to power in 1933 and wanted to revise the Treaty of Versailles. Great Britain (figurine on the left) - one of the victorious powers of World War I and one of the main countries involved in the post-war peace settlement. France (figurine on the right) - one of the victorious powers of World War I, strongly affected by the war and interested in weakening Germany through the Treaty of Versailles. League of Nations /Dr. Lon (Scientist in the middle) - n international organization created after World War I to keep peace and prevent future wars through collective security.
The symbols and their meaning	Peace machine: symbolizes the post-WWI international peace system created after 1919.but ultimately failed to maintain stability and peace in Europe. Alarm system: represents warnings that danger and conflicts were growing but were ignored. Versailles treaty pipe: symbolizes how the Treaty of Versailles created resentment in Germany through war guilt, reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions. Hitler later used this anger in Nazi propaganda. Collective security pipe: represents the League of Nations’ failed attempts to keep peace not stopping crises such as Manchuria, Abyssinia, and later German expansion. Hitler inside the development tank: symbolizes how Hitler’s rise was helped by political instability, resentment against Versailles, economic problems, and weak international responses.All of the political failures helped him rise to power. Cracks in the machine: represent the weaknesses of the peace system.The danger that can occur if it breaks. Mein Kampf: Hitler’s book in which he wrote all about his anger and plans towards LON and the future. Nazi ideology and his ambitions. THE BIG 3: represent the main powers connected to the post-WWI settlement, especially Britain and France, who helped create the system but later failed to defend it strongly enough. Scientist (in the middle): represents League of Nations as they were the primary “creator”. Figurine (on the left): symbolizes Great Britain Figurine (on the right): symbolizes France
Performance technique	I used a graphic technique, different fine-lined markers as well as pencils which I slightly blended to bring out the main composition
Historical context	After World War I, the Versailles Treaty placed harsh restrictions on Germany, causing the economy to collapse, political hardships and dissatisfaction among the Germans. To maintain peace, League of Nations created the policy of collective security but it failed to respond, take action effectively and control the occurring problems. Adolf Hitler took advantage of the Germans and their anger to gain support and to win himself a spot in the government. His ideology lead to revenge against Versailles treaty as well as expansion of Germany. The failures, not only lead to diplomacy failures but also contributed to the outbreak of WW2

Author's name surname, grade	BENAS KLIŠEVIČIUS, 16 years old, class 10A
Educational institution	President Antanas Smetona Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	„Glory is not what we need“
The main idea of the caricature	To reveal the characteristics of Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule
The characters depicted	Depicted are Napoleon Bonaparte, representatives of various social classes, and a mass of people behind them.
The symbols and their meaning	Geometric shapes — a crowd/mass of people
Performance technique	Pencil
Historical context	The caricature is associated with the social relations between ruler Napoleon Bonaparte and the masses of the people during his reign.

Author's name surname, grade	Danaia Stoianova, 16 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	Profiled High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics ‘Acad. Nikola Obreshkov’ -Burgas
Title of the caricature	When Power Meets Winter: Napoleon’s Downfall
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature presents Napoleon’s rise and fall through the symbol of a giant shadow spreading across Europe. The shadow begins to crack in Russia, representing the collapse of his power and ambition after the Russian campaign of 1812.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte French soldiers Retreating French army in Russia European empires represented on the map
The symbols and their meaning	Giant shadow – Napoleon’s influence, ambition, and power over Europe Cracked shadow – the beginning of his downfall Snow and winter – the failure of the Russian campaign Broken cannon and torn flag – defeat and destruction Europe map – the territories influenced by Napoleon
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature with color pencils
Historical context	Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 weakened the French Empire and marked the beginning of his downfall after years of military victories across Europe. The Napoleonic Wars were among the most important military conflicts in European history. Napoleon Bonaparte expanded the French Empire through military victories and alliances, becoming one of the most powerful rulers in Europe. Many countries, including Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, formed coalitions against him because of his growing influence. In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia with a massive army, expecting a quick victory. However, the harsh winter, lack of supplies, hunger, and Russian resistance destroyed much of his army and marked the beginning of his downfall. After several defeats, Napoleon lost power, and the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815. In the caricature, Napoleon is presented as a small man, but his shadow over Europe is enormous because of his great influence and power. The shadow symbolizes his ambition and dominance across the continent. However, when the shadow reaches Russia, it begins to crack and disappear, symbolizing the weakening of his strength and the beginning of his downfall after the failed Russian campaign. I also used warm colors for Europe to represent the period of victories and expansion, while Russia is shown through winter and cold tones to symbolize Napoleon’s defeat and the collapse of the French Empire. The cracked ground in Russia symbolizes destruction, instability, and the collapse of Napoleon’s control and ambitions. The snow, broken cannon, and retreating soldiers further emphasize defeat and the weakening of the French Empire. The caricature presents not only a historical conflict, but also the idea that great ambition and desire for power can eventually lead to downfall and failure.

Author's name surname, grade	Danielius Revinskas 16 years old 10th grade
Educational institution	Gruzdžiai Children’s Socialization Center
Title of the caricature	State revenge on Hitler.
The main idea of the caricature	The states were so angry with Hitler for the chaos, killing, and extermination of Jews around the world that they decided to destroy Hitler in the most brutal way possible.
The characters depicted	JAV, Great Britain, German dictator Adolf Hitler, Soviet Union
The symbols and their meaning	The toilet- is Hitler's hiding place, it's all the evil that Hitler did. Fists - the anger of the states towards Hitler. The mountain- is the pinnacle of Hitler's career. Clouds and lightning - the coming confrontation between the states and Hitler. Tanks and guns - represent war. Hitler strangling with ropes - means hatred, rage.
Performance technique	Graphic work
Historical context	This caricature depicts the period of World War II, when Adolf Hitler led Nazi Germany in aggressive expansion across Europe and carried out systematic persecution and mass murder, especially during the Holocaust. These actions provoked strong resistance from countries around the world. The main Allied powers – United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union – united to defeat the Nazi regime. In the caricature, their anger is shown symbolically: fists represent strength and determination, the storm signals an approaching confrontation, and weapons and tanks reflect real warfare. Hitler’s portrayal in a humiliated and helpless position symbolizes the collapse of his power. The “mountain” represents the peak of his dominance, from which he is about to fall. Altogether, the image emphasizes the inevitability of accountability. Historically, this relates to 1945, when Allied forces captured Berlin, Nazi Germany surrendered, and Hitler died by suicide, marking the end of the war in Europe.

Author's name surname, grade	Daryna Perz, 16 years old, 10 grade
Educational institution	Kaunas International gymnasium (Kauno Tarptautinė gimnazija)
Title of the caricature	The Price of Greatness
The main idea of the caricature	Napoleon maintains power through a balance between internal order and endless war, relying on the backbone of the French people.
The characters depicted	Napoleon I Bonaparte. The French people as a human rope. Political opponents of the regime.
The symbols and their meaning	The balance beam represents Napoleon's absolute control over the country. The left pan “Internal Peace” represents civil reforms. The right pan “Eternal War” represents exhausting military campaigns. The rope “The French People” represents the burden of power and war. The people with saws represent opposition trying to overthrow the regime.
Performance technique	Paper A4, black-ink and red-ink pen.
Historical context	The First French Empire (1804–1815): Napoleon saved France from revolutionary chaos with reforms, but dragged it into endless wars. Power was maintained by dictatorship and the burden placed on the French people.

Author's name surname, grade	Deimantė Vikniutė, 16, II e
Educational institution	Plungės ,,Saulės“ gimnazija
Title of the caricature	,,Freedom – the bear‘s greatest fear“
The main idea of the caricature	Although Michail Gorbachev‘s policies of openness and restructuring brought greater freedom, the Baltic states remained dependent on the Soviet Union‘s authority. Their independence still depended on political changes and decisions made in Moscow.
The characters depicted	The caricature depicts Michail Gorbachev and the there Baltic states: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The symbols and their meaning	Bear – Michail Gorbachev; Three sisters – the Baltic states: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia; Cage – the restriction of the Baltic states‘ freedom and Soviet control over them; Key – freedom; Lock – occupation of the Baltic states and the prohibitation against separating from the Soviet Union.
Performance technique	This is a grafic caricature, created by using line drawing technique with pencils and pens.
Historical context	From the 1988 to 1991, the Baltic states tried to regain their independence from the Soviet Union. Gorbachev‘s policies weakened the Soviet system, however Moscow opposed all attempts to break away from the Soviet Union.

Author's name surname, grade	Denitsa Andreeva, 17 years old, Grade 10
Educational institution	High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics acad. Nikola Obreshkov, Burgas, Bulgaria
Title of the caricature	The teacher and the student
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea is to show how the connection between two big leaders and how they worked together
The characters depicted	Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini
The symbols and their meaning	The main symbols are the logos of their totalitarian ideologies. Hakenkreuz (meaning “hooked cross”) to indicate Hitler’s Nazism. Fasces for Mussolini’s fascism. The two headed eagle that indicates great empire, which is what both dictators are aiming for. The school setting to show clearly it’s revolved around the process of teaching and learning and to what it could lead
Performance technique	Graphic drawing
Historical context	It is said that Mussolini was the one with public speaking skills that lead him to the high position, which Hitler later learned from. They have direct connection through their war strategies and cooperation during World War II in the Axis, along with Japan.

Author's name surname, grade	Diana Nikitenko, 15 years old, Grade 2 (10-A)
Educational institution	Kharkiv lyceum №150 of Kharkiv City Council in Kharkiv Region
Title of the caricature	Cold War
The main idea of the caricature	The global rivalry between socialism and capitalism, highlighting their different visions of progress and their constant ideological confrontation during the Cold War.
The characters depicted	Leonid Brezhnev – representing the Soviet Union and socialism. Richard Nixon – representing the United States and capitalism.
The symbols and their meaning	Soviet flag – socialism. USA flag – democracy and capitalism. Rocket launch – space race and technological competition. Factories – industrial strength of the USSR. Skyscrapers and Hollywood – economic success and culture of the USA.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn illustration using colored pencils
Historical context	The Cold War (1947–1991) was a period of political and ideological tension between the USA and the USSR, marked by competition in technology, space and global influence without direct war.

Author's name surname, grade	Denitsa Koleva, 16 years old, 2nd grade
Educational institution	School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Acad. Nikola Obreshkov
Title of the caricature	“Trial in the Name of Liberty”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows that the Revolution, which aimed for justice and equality, instead led to unfair judgement and political executions.
The characters depicted	Marianne, representing liberty and the ideas of French Revolution; three condemned prisoners; the revolutionary crowds
The symbols and their meaning	The scales- terror completely outweighs justice, which shows that justice has become distorted; The Liberty cap- shows irony , worn during an execution process; The lables “TRAITOR TO THE REPUBLIC “, “ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE “ and “ARISTOCRAT” show that prisoners are judged based on accusations rather than evidence; The crowd and the Revolutionary Tribunal represent the public pressure and the government’s role in enforcing unfair punishments; the guillotine- execution and terror; the fallen crown – the end of monarchy and the fall of the old regime; the broken chain symbolises freedom and the Revolution’s goal of Liberty.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature. The used tools are colored pencils and ink, used to outline the objects.
Historical context	The drawing depicts the radical new regime of the French Revolution known as the Republic, specifically during the Reign of Terror (1793–1794). This government replaced the absolute monarchy with a radical democracy, but quickly shifted toward extreme authoritarianism to defend its new ideals.

Author's name surname, grade	Dovydas Kleinauskas, age 15, 9A class
Educational institution	Kauno VDU Rasos Gimnazija
Title of the caricature	Two Dictators – Two Ideologies
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon shows conflict between Hitler and Stalin and the destruction caused by war.
The characters depicted	Hitler is shown as aggressive and proud. Stalin looks strict and serious. Both wear military uniforms.
The symbols and their meaning	Crack in the middle – conflict and division Burning city – war and destruction Swastika – Nazism Red star – Soviet communism
Performance technique	The drawing was made with colored pencils using dark colors and strong outlines.
Historical context	Hitler and Stalin were WWII dictators. Their regimes caused war, destruction, fear, and millions of deaths across Europe.

Author's name surname, grade	Elija Daraškaitė , 16 years old , 10 grade.
Educational institution	VDU “ Rasos” gymnasium .
Title of the caricature	“With Hitler into the abyss”
The main idea of the caricature	Soldiers lives were not valued , they were sent to front even though goverment knew they not going to win - This was dictated by the distorted morality of the militaristic state military caste.
The characters depicted	Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Göring
The symbols and their meaning	Uneven Scales – how soldiers' lives were not valued. Dark and bullets coming from left corner – shows that Germany are losing.
Performance technique	graphic arts/drawing
Historical context	In the 1944. German government knew it would lose WW2 Despite that they still sent soldiers to frontSome of Hitler's biggest supporters were Hermann Göring and Joseph Goebbels. H.Goring even when he was being prosecuted in Nuremberg trial did not completely renounce Hitler or Nazism. After Hitler shot himself J.Goebbels was depressed and believed only way out left for him was the one Hitler chose so he followed Hiler example. A lot of high ranging generals valued loyalty to Hitler more than the lives of soldiers which resulted in high number of deaths of young men.

Author's name surname, grade	Elzė Dekerytė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Where the wind takes France
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature visualizes how hot air ballons became a symbol of hope during the Siege of Paris in 1870 – 1871. While armed Prussian forces surrounded Paris, civilians depended on innovation to communicate with the outside world.
The characters depicted	Citizens of Paris, Prussian soldiers surrounding the city, Jules Verne. Citizens of Paris – represent ordinary people who were trapped inside the city during the Siege of Paris. They suffered from food shortages, isolation, and fear, but still tried to resist. Prussian soldiers – represent the Prussian army that surrounded Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. In the caricature, they symbolize military pressure, occupation, and the isolation of the city. Jules Verne – a French writer famous for adventure and science-fiction novels. In the caricature, he symbolizes imagination, innovation, and the French fascination with flight and technology.
The symbols and their meaning	The hot air ballon displays a French flag, it symbolizes freedom and resistance. The tall soldiers symbolize the oppression created by the Prussians during the Sierge. The crowd below represents civilians affected by the events. The book –like wings, represent imagination and the adventurous writing, of Jules Verne, whose stories were inspired by the events of the Sierge. The Prussian black eagle (Pickelhaube) (sewn in on two of the uniforms), was the Prussian army symbol, which symbolized courage, authority and sharp vision. It also symbolise Prussian military power, authority, and control
Performance technique	Watercolors, colored pencils, paint markers, graphic pens.
Historical context	The Siege of Paris in 1870 – 1871, took place during a period of rising nationalism and power shifts in 19th century Europe. The movement to unify Germany under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck and Prussian increased different political tensions across Europe. France which was led by Napoleon III, feared the loss of power to Prussia, the tension escalated after the helped trigger war in 1870. After France lost several battles and Emperor Napoleon III was captured by Prussian forces and the German army isolated Paris, leading to severe food shortages and limited communication. During the siege, Innovations became crucial for communications beyond the city. Hot air balloons became a symbol of hope and were used to deliver mail, food, letters and even for carrying passengers in and out of the city. Their use and importance later inspired author Jules Verne to explore themes of flight, innovation, and adventure in his novels.

Author's name surname, grade	Ema Blinstrubaitė, 17 m., IID
Educational institution	VDU „Rasos“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“On the Edge of War”
The main idea of the caricature	This caricature represents the Cuban Missile Crisis, one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War, when the world came close to a nuclear war. It shows the tension and rivalry between the USA and the USSR.
The characters depicted	John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev
The symbols and their meaning	The missiles symbolize the threat of nuclear war. The USA and USSR signs represent the conflict between the two superpowers. Sweat drops on the characters show fear, pressure, and tension. The handshake symbolizes negotiations and efforts to avoid war and reach peace.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature created with a black pen, using line work, shading, and symbolic elements.
Historical context	In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis began after the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba. This conflict brought the world very close to a nuclear war and increased Cold War tensions.

Author's name surname, grade	EMA KAVALIAUSKAITĖ, 17, 10B
Educational institution	KAUNO „VARPO” GIMNAZIJA
Title of the caricature	WEDDING DAY
The main idea of the caricature	TEMPORARY PEACE PACT BETWEEN SOVIET UNION AND NATZI GERMANY, FAKING AMITY
The characters depicted	JOSEPH STALIN, ADOLF HITLER
The symbols and their meaning	THE FLOWERS ARE PINK/MAGENTS RHODODENDRON PETALS THEY SYMBOLIZE WARNING, DANGER, CAUTION. THEY TAKE MOST OF THE ATTENTION AND DROWN OUT THE TWO PLANES FLYING ABOVE WHICH SYMBOLIZE CONNECTIVITY AND FREEDOM. THE MEANING IS THAT BEHIND THE FRIENDLY ACT LIE SELFISH DESIRES AND BETRAYAL.
Performance technique	COLOURED PENCILS, THIN MARKERS, GRAPHIC DRAWING
Historical context	August 23, 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Author's name surname, grade	Ema Markauskaitė, 10th grade
Educational institution	Šiauliai University Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Cold War: The World On A Chessboard
The main idea of the caricature	This artwork shows the political conflict between the US and the USSR during the Cold War. It presents the world as a strategic game where both superpowers compete for global power. They use military strenght and different ideologies to gain influence, but carefully avoid a direct war with each other.
The characters depicted	The Eagle (Symbol of The USA): Pictured on the left side, wearing a helmet and clothing with the US flag patterns. The Bear (Symbol of The USA): Pictured on the right side, wearing an ushanka hat with a red star.
The symbols and their meaning	The Cheesboard labeled „World”: Represents international politics and the countries that became a strategic playground for the superpowers. The Brick Wall: Represents the „Iron Curtain” that divided the Eastern and Western blocs. Nuclear Missiles on the Characters Backs: Symbolize the arms race and the constant threat of nuclear war. The Pile of Money (on the US side): Represents capitalism and economic power. Factories and Tanks (on the USSR side): Symbolize heavy industry, militarism, and the buildup of communism. The Clock: A reference to the „Doomsday Clock,” showing how close the world is to a nuclear disaster.
Performance technique	Pen and watercolor
Historical context	The artwork refers to the second half of the 20th century, a time of intense idealogical, economic, and military conflict between the Western democratic world and the Eastern communist bloc.

Author's name surname, grade	EMILĖ ATKOCEVIČIŪTĖ
Educational institution	Kauno Jono Pauliaus II gimnazija
Title of the caricature	„Take the responsibility“
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea is that everyone must be responsible for their actions.
The characters depicted	Germany and the Entente.
The symbols and their meaning	1. A document depicting the Versailles peace demands. 2. Scale marked 14 represents Wilson‘s peace points.
Performance technique	Work done with coloured pencils.
Historical context	The cartoon shows the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. The Entente forced harsh reparations on Germany, crushing their hope for Wilson‘s fair „14 Points“ peace.

Author's name surname, grade	Erikas Kurenkovas, 16 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Someone else‘s battlefield
The main idea of the caricature	Korean proxy (1950–1953) war during Cold War. Superpowers (USSR and USA) fighting their wars through other countries to minimise casualties and to gain influence and power (also spreading their ideology) while making the common civilian of the countries used look like a small ant in a geopolitical game.
The characters depicted	Joseph Stalin – General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mao Zedong – Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party Harry S. Truman – 33rd US President Douglas MacArthur – head of the United Nations Command
The symbols and their meaning	Joseph Stalin, hiding partially behind USSR flag while pushing Mao Zedong closer to North Korea, shows how he encouraged China to enter the war by supporting North Korea ideologically and millitary while having minimal involvement himself. Harry S. Truman holding Douglas MacArthur‘s hand in a sign of unity in protection of a democratic South Korean nation, wanting to help keep democracy and capitalism in South Korea. It also represents idea of UN participation in this conflict. The two different warcries can be perceived on both sides: one written in Russian, as Soviet Union was the most influential communist country at that time, and the words say „Stand against imperialism“, expressing their negative attitude toward USA, as the representatives of Western imperialistic and capitalistic system. On USA‘s side, it‘s written „Protect Korea from the red menace“ – presenting the USA's attitude towards communism as threat.
Performance technique	Pencils, paper.
Historical context	Right after WWII ended, a different kind of war began, a Cold War (1945–1991) between two countries with opposing ideologies (communism against capitalism and democracy), Soviet Union and USA. During the Cold war a lot of local conflicts arose, mostly due to USA’s and Soviet Union’s fight for influence. Those wars were called proxy wars. One of the best examples is the Korean war (1950–1953), during which North Korea attacked South Korea and passed through the 38th parallel catching the South by surprise. This made US and the UN intervene, which resulted in intervention from the Chinese and the Soviets, this war caused thousands of deaths of civilians and soldiers, the conflict ended in a stalemate in 1953, and we still see its effects up until this day by the division of Korea.

Author's name surname, grade	Eva Bagdonaitė, 15 years old, 9th grade.
Educational institution	Šiauliai Stasys Šalkauskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	„Train to a new era“.
The main idea of the caricature	Technology outpaced human imagination – progress at the end of the 19th century was so rapid that people were not yet used to the new technological reality, so they were easily impressed and briefly mistook cinematic illusions for real events.
The characters depicted	Auguste and Louis Lumière (the brothers) and Georges Méliès (early filmmaker).
The symbols and their meaning	The viewer’s reaction: symbolizes society’s technological shock, as people were so unfamiliar with moving images that they briefly mistook cinema-tic illusion for reality. The painting: symbolizes respect for the creators of the new era (the Lumière brothers). The oncoming train: symbolizes unstoppable technological progress that transformed society and everyday life forever.
Performance technique	Graphite pencils
Historical context	People gathered to watch the first movie with a train. Having never seen moving images, they feared the train would crush them and fled in panic.

Author's name surname, grade	Eva Velavičiūtė, 17 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The baby race to space
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature visualizes the childish concept of competing against each other in the pace race during the Cold War. It emphasizes how unserious the competition is.
The characters depicted	John F. Kennedy - the president of the United States from 1961 to 1963. He represented the USA during an important stage of the Cold War Joseph Stalin - the leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953. He helped establish Soviet control over Eastern Europe after World War II and contributed to the beginning of Cold War tensions.
The symbols and their meaning	The baby forms of the leaders of big nations is a way of showing immaturity, because rather than cooperating or helping each other to reach a similar goal, they worked against each other. The rocket named “Saturn V” is a rocket that was developed with the support of John F. Kennedy. The toy army men mean to represent military forces. The blocks spell out 1955 which is the date of the start of the space race.
Performance technique	Colored pencils, markers and pens.
Historical context	The space race was a 20th – century geopolitical competition between the Soviet Union and the United States. Born out of the cold war the space race started in 1955 and was a peaceful rivalry based in technological advancement to prove ideological supremacy and military power.

Author's name surname, grade	Eva Kazlauskaitė, 15metų, 1 gimnazijos klasė
Educational institution	Klaipėda „Aukuras“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The Feast of False Friendship
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon reveals the hypocrisy behind the temporary alliance between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Although Hitler and Stalin appear to cooperate, both regimes are driven by greed, violence, and political manipulation while dividing Europe for their own benefit.
The characters depicted	Adolf Hitler represented as a wolf, Joseph Stalin represented as a bear
The symbols and their meaning	Wolf - aggression, destruction, and Nazi expansionism; Bear - Soviet power, control, and domination; Map-shaped cake - Europe divided between totalitarian regimes; Poland in the centre - The first victim of the agreement; Warplanes in the sky - the approaching war and military threat over Europe
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature using felt-tip pens and pencil
Historical context	The cartoon depicts the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, when Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union divided Poland and Eastern Europe.

Author's name surname, grade	Gabija Kavaliauskaitė, 16 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	VMU „Rasos” gymnasium
Title of the caricature	„Unequal childhood”
The main idea of the caricature	Children walking towards their future paths.
The characters depicted	Children that grew up during the Industrial Revolution.
The symbols and their meaning	A boy walking towards school with a book symbolizes privileged access to education. The boy walking to the factory represents children forced to work. The sign „Path to the future” symbolizes how social class determined education opportunities and future outcomes.
Performance technique	Graphic art
Historical context	This caricature shows inequality children faced during the Industrial Revolution. Wealthy children could attend school, while poorer children were forced into factory labor.

Author's name surname, grade	Gabriela Torres Canela, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas VDU „Rasos“gymnasium
Title of the caricature	„Feeding the Machine“
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea is to show how factories during the Industrial Revolution exploited workers and treated people like parts of a machine for profit.
The characters depicted	Factory workers, poor people and the factory monster.
The symbols and their meaning	Monster factory – exploitation of workers, Conveyor belt – endless hard labor, Smoke – pollution and unhealthy conditions, Sharp teeth – danger and cruelty of industrial work, „WORK HARDER! NO REST“ – unfair treatment of workers, Small workers – powerless lower social class.
Performance technique	Graphic
Historical context	The Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th century, changed society through the rapid growth of factories, machines, and mass production. New technologies increased economic growth and allowed factory owners to produce goods faster and cheaper than ever before. However, this progress often came at the expense of workers. Many people, including women and children, worked long hours in dangerous and unhealthy factories for very low wages. Workers were treated more like parts of machines than human beings. Poor living conditions, pollution, and social inequality became major problems during this period.

Author's name surname, grade	Gabrielė Juknytė, 16m., I gimnazijos klasė
Educational institution	Klaipėda „Aukuras“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Cute Outside, Cruel History
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon contrasts Japan’s cute pop culture image with the brutal war crimes committed during World War II against Chinese and Korean civilians.
The characters depicted	Japanese cartoon characters representing modern pop culture; Victims of Japanese war crimes; Japanese military figure.
The symbols and their meaning	Anime characters – modern image of Japan and global popularity Bones and dark shadows – death and suffering Hearts and smiling characters – contrast between innocence and hidden historical crimes Laboratory/hospital setting – Unit 731 experiments and wartime abuse
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature using black marker
Historical context	The cartoon refers to Japanese war crimes during World War II, including Unit 731 experiments and violence against Chinese and Korean civilians.

Author's name surname, grade	Gerda Tvarijonaitė, 15 years old, IMYP1
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The living
The main idea of the caricature	Whilst the main things emphasized during the cold war were the political aspects, many people had to go on living their lives as if nothing was happening. They were constantly on edge about a war breaking out and could trust one another due to the spies sent all over their neighborhoods, the people from both nations lived their lives full of fear.
The characters depicted	Regular civilians: on the right a classic american couple abd on the left a russian couple.
The symbols and their meaning	On the left: a radio and a poster of Leonid Brezhnev, expressing the propaganda that the civilians were being told. Rip off calendar, to show the tension that was in the air due living on the edge every second during the cold war. On the right: posters of famous singers, showing that even through the tough times Americans found comfort in things like listening to music. A movie poster of a comedy that was made about war, meaning that for some people the war wasn’t a huge thing. The wall in the middle, Berlins wall separating the countries, as-well as the citizens even from the same nation losing trust in others due to the spies that were being sent to the USA.
Performance technique	Watercolor pencils, markers and pens
Historical context	During the cold war whilst the political groups were actively threatening but never actually engaging in a war, the civilians had to live in constant fear of a war breaking out, however no matter the situation everyone had to go on with their regular lives, and the proportion show that even though the civilians were a small part in a huge war, the war was a major part of them.

Author's name surname, grade	Goda Mackevičiūtė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Šiauliai Stasys Šalkauskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Tug of war
The main idea of the caricature	USA and USSR tries to split the world by gaining political influence.
The characters depicted	USA, USSR
The symbols and their meaning	USA Leader – showman, businessman with capitalistic and materialistic values. USSR Leader – a bear with military uniform, symbolising USSRs military strength and mindset of soldiers. Rope – political influence
Performance technique	Pencils, coloring pens.
Historical context	USA and USSR after WW2 were enemies and tried to gain political influence. As they didn‘t actually combat each other – war remained cold.

Author's name surname, grade	Goda Paneckaitė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Šiauliai Stasys Šalkauskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Pampers - weapons
The main idea of the caricature	Everyone threatens to start a war, but no one wants to actually do it, as the consequences would be fatal.
The characters depicted	USA, USSR (depicted as children).
The symbols and their meaning	Candy at the bottom, depicted as small, harmless bombs.
Performance technique	Colored pencils, drawing ink.
Historical context	The Cold War was a post-WWII tension between the US and USSR. Fearing nuclear war, they competed for global influence but avoided direct combat, keeping the war "cold.

Author's name surname, grade	Goda Stapulionytė, 16 years old, Year 9
Educational institution	Kaunas "Saulės" Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“1947-1991: The Chess Game that Shaped the Modern World”
The main idea of the caricature	The game of chess depicts the political, ideological and military fight for global influence between the USA and USSR from 1947 to 1991.
The characters depicted	Joseph Stalin and the representative of the USA
The symbols and their meaning	Chessboard represents the strategic struggle between two powerful nations. The hammer and the sickle depict the ideology of communism. The eagle is a symbol of the power and freedom of the USA.
Performance technique	A drawing with a pencil.
Historical context	From 1947 to 1991, the USA and the USSR competed for global influence. The conflict was more political, economic, and ideological than a direct one.

Author's name surname, grade	Joana Natarius, Anna Čuprova, 16 years old, 10 grade
Educational institution	Kaunas International Gymnasium (Kauno Tarptautinė gimnazija)
Title of the caricature	THE COLD WAR
The main idea of the caricature	Confrontation and rivalry between two superpowers and their blocs, without direct military conflict.
The characters depicted	Two powerful figures – representing the USA and the USSR; around them – smaller states, symbols of weapons, propaganda, and competition.
The symbols and their meaning	Nuclear missiles – threat of global destruction and arms race. Divided wall / border – separation of worlds, Iron Curtain. Symbols of ideology (star, eagle) – opposition of political systems. Race track – competition in technology, space and influence.
Performance technique	PAPER A4, BLACK-INK PEN, COLOURFUL PENCILS
Historical context	After WWII, USA and USSR became rivals. Different ideologies, arms race, space competition, proxy wars. Divided Europe, tension lasted 1947–1991, shaped global politics and split the world into two camps.

Author's name surname, grade	Jorė Jacinaitė 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Europe in Napoleon’s hands
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature portrays Napoleon Bonaparte as a powerful ruler who reshapes Europe to benefit his empire. While Emperor of Austria Francis II and Russian Tsar Alexander I- react in shock to his growing Empire.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte- French Emperor (1804-1815) shown in the center as the dominant ruler taking lands in Europe during the period of Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) and the ruler of the French Empire. Emperor Francis II- ruler of Austria and the last emperor of Holy Roman Empire, representing against Napoleon’s expansion. Tsar Alexander I- ruler of Russia, also representing opposition to Napoleon’s expansion..
The symbols and their meaning	Map of Europe -territories influenced or conquered by Napoleon Arrows with streaks- military expansion to other countries A simple arrow symbol shows Napoleon’s final defeat and exile to the island of St Helena. Imperial bees- show Napoleon’s authority and legitimacy as Emperor of France. The Legion of Honour badge- was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte and is given as the highest decoration in France. It’s located on the right side of his uniform. The coats of arms of Napoleon Bonaparte hat- show the countries and territories Napoleon controlled or influenced, proving his dominance over Europeincluding ng the coat of arms of Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Italy, Kingdom of Naples, Lucca and more. Napoleon's Austerlitz Sword- symbolises his military victories and the power he gained by defeating other European states Austria and Russia in 1805. All the symbols symbolize Napoleon’s dominance and the effect it had on Europe and on its own country.
Performance technique	Created in graphite pencils and inked with a pen to highlight important details and bring out the drawing.
Historical context	During the Napoleonic era, Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of France in 1804 and expanded French power across Europe. In 1805, he defeated Austria and Russia at the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1806, he created the Confederation of the Rhine, which increased French control over German states. However, after military failures, especially the invasion of Russia in 1812 and his defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon’s empire collapsed. .

Author's name surname, grade	Justina Iščišinaitė, 16 years old ,1 klasė
Educational institution	VDU “Rasos“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“The French revolution”
The main idea of the caricature	The people rebel against the king and social inequality, demanding freedom and equal rights.
The characters depicted	King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, French citizens.
The symbols and their meaning	The French flag - revolution and freedom; A crowd with weapons - the uprising of the people against the government; The inscription "Liberty, equality, fraternity" - the ideas of the revolution
Performance technique	Colored pencils
Historical context	The French Revolution began in 1789 because people were unhappy with high taxes, poverty, and the absolute power of King Louis XVI. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas, revolutionaries demanded liberty, equality, and citizens’ rights. The monarchy was overthrown, and France became a republic. The revolution changed politics and society across Europe.

Author's name surname, grade	Kamelia Kostadinova, 16 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences “Akademik Nikola Obreshkov”, Burgas, Bulgaria
Title of the caricature	Drawn by Despair
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea is how Hitler “painted” World War II instead of creating real art.
The characters depicted	Hitler
The symbols and their meaning	the graveyard - the lives lost in the war the canvas - suffering caused by war the brush - instead of creating art, it is used like a tool of destruction
Performance technique	Graphic drawing
Historical context	The caricature reflects the irony of Hitler’s personal history. Before entering politics, he once dreamed of becoming an artist and applied to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, where he was rejected. His failed artistic ambitions are transformed into a disturbing image: instead of painting landscapes or portraits, he “creates” war, causing suffering and millions of deaths around the world. This is how twisted ambition and extremist ideology can reshape both a person and the world around them.

Author's name surname, grade	Karilė Kiškytė, 15 years, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“I want more”
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea of the caricature is to criticize British colonization in Africa during the 19th century and to show the negative effects of imperialism. The image suggests that European powers, especially Britain and France, benefited from controlling African territories while African people suffered from exploitation, inequality, and loss of freedom.
The characters depicted	John Bull is a British national personification created by John Arbuthnot in 1712 as a satirical character in a series of pamphlets. He first appeared in the pamphlet Law is a Bottomless Pit and later in The History of John Bull. Marianne, shown holding the French flag on the right side of the caricature, represents the French ideals of liberty, equality, and citizenship. Since the French Revolution, she has appeared in French art, public buildings, and national memory as a symbol of the French Republic. The four young boys of colour in the caricature represent the victims of colonization. Each child symbolizes a different negative effect of colonialism, such as exploitation, loss of freedom, cultural destruction, and racial inequality.
The symbols and their meaning	John Bull – symbolizes Britain during the imperialism period. Controlling territories from North to South Africa. The footsteps of John Bull – they come from the upper part of the caricature, showing that John Bull comes from Europe, specifically where Great Britain is located. The Great Britain flag on top of Africa – shows the British desire to colonise all of Africa at that time. Four young colored boys being pressed by the Great Britain flag – shows the negative effects of imperialism on the people of British colonies. Each boy represents a negative effect: famine, exploitation, diseases, and wars. John Bull reaching over and trying to grab the Suez Canal Zone – shows that, at that time, the British really wanted to control the canal and did not want to lose its power in Egypt. The French flag and French Revolution symbol (the Tricolour Cockade) – show that the hand belongs to Marianne, the personification of France. Marianne holding a knife – knife shows that France also wanted control over the Suez Canal Zone and was prepared to use violence to defend its interests. “South Africa” written in the caricature – it is written next to the concentration camp to show that South Africa experienced some of the worst effects of British colonization. The concentration camp – shows people in southern Africa under British imperial control were exploited for cheap labour, The concentration camp also suggests that British imperialism involved violence, control and exploitation. The diamond next to John Bull and his footsteps – shows how the British benefited from their colonies, as resources like diamonds were one of the reasons for colonization.
Performance technique	Acrylic markers and pencils
Historical context	The colonization of Africa intensified in the 19th century. The great European powers such as Britain, France, Germany, and Italy were all trying to colonize Africa. Britain had the most African states and ruled almost 22 states in Africa. The British believed that, as a more civilized country, they should help African countries by colonizing them, but in reality they were doing this because of racial superiority and nationalism. European countries also wanted Africa because of its valuable natural resources such as gold, diamonds, and rubber. During the Berlin Conference (1884-1885), European powers divided Africa among themselves without consulting African leaders or considering African societies. Many Africans were forced to work under terrible conditions, and traditional cultures were damaged. Colonization also created long-term problems such as poverty, political instability, conflicts, new diseases, loss of independence, and exploitation of natural resources.

Author's name surname, grade	Karina Oganian, 16, Ig
Educational institution	LSMU gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Sharing Africa
The main idea of the caricature	European countries are fighting over Africa to gain land and power.
The characters depicted	Leaders from Britain, France, Germany and Russia, aswell as African people.
The symbols and their meaning	The cake represents Africa ant its resources. The knives show greed. The sad African people show how locals suffered.
Performance technique	Simple hand-drawn political caricature with exaggerated faces and symbols.
Historical context	In the late 1800s, European countries took control of many African lands during the „Scramble for Africa.“

Author's name surname, grade	KIRIL ŠARYKIN 16 IID (10D)
Educational institution	VILNIAUS „SOSTINĖS“ GIMNAZIJA
Title of the caricature	THE SHADOW OF OCCUPATION
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows the oppression of Lithuania during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990 and the loss of freedom under totalitarian rule.
The characters depicted	A Soviet soldier with a weapon and a red star on his helmet Lithuania represented by the shape of the country in national colours.
The symbols and their meaning	The red star symbolizes the USSR and communism. The dark shadow represents fear, violence, and occupation. The Lithuanian flag symbolizes national identity and resistance. The years 1940–1990 mark the period of Soviet occupation.
Performance technique	Pencil drawing with strong contrast, symbolism, dark shading, and political caricature elements.
Historical context	Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 and regained independence in 1990 after decades of repression and resistance.

Author's name surname, grade	Kotryna Ajauskaitė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“Liberty clearance sale!”
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon shows how the ideas of the French Revolution (1789-1799) were changed during Napoleon’s time. At first people wanted liberty, equality, and rights, but later Napoleon became emperor and used power for himself. The cartoon also shows that rich rulers cared more about power and money than ordinary people.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte – French Emperor (1804-815) European kings and rulers poor French citizen.
The symbols and their meaning	The shop represents politics and power being “sold” like products. The crown symbolizes Napoleon becoming emperor. The expensive price tags show that freedom and rights were difficult to achieve. The poor person represents ordinary citizens who suffered during wars and political changes.
Performance technique	Colored pencils, crayons, black ink pen.
Historical context	After the French Revolution, Napoleon became emperor and controlled much of Europe. He spread new laws and ideas, but limited freedom and started many wars.

Author's name surname, grade	Liepa Jankūnaitė, ninth grade, 16 years old
Educational institution	LSMU gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“Napoleon’s Defeat Cake”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows that even though Napoleon was a powerful ruler and military leader, his defeats became stronger than his victories. The “Napoleon cake” symbolizes how his failures and lost wars eventually built his downfall.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte Symbolic countries represented by flags: Russia, Great Britain, Prussia, Sweden, and the Austrian Empire
The symbols and their meaning	Napoleon standing on the cake – symbolizes Napoleon and his empire standing on unstable achievements. Napoleon cake – a wordplay because the cake shares Napoleon’s name and represents his accumulated defeats. Candles – symbolize important wars and turning points in his military career. Russian flag – symbolizes Napoleon’s defeat during the Battle of Borodino. British flag – symbolizes Great Britain’s resistance and Napoleon’s defeat in Battle of Trafalgar. Prussian, Swedish, Russian, and Austrian Empire flags – symbolize the coalition countries in the Battle of Nations that contributed to Napoleon’s defeat. Layers of the cake – represent how each defeat added another layer leading to his downfall.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature using colored pencils and black outlining.
Historical context	During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon suffered major defeats against coalition powers including Russia, Britain, Prussia, Sweden and Austria, leading to his fall.

Author's name surname, grade	Liepa Milašiūtė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The Tailors of Europe
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows how the leaders of Europe reshaped the continent during the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) without considering the wishes of smaller nations.
The characters depicted	Klemens von Metternich (Austria) - Austrian foreign minister and one of the main organizers of the Congress of Vienna. He wanted to restore monarchies and keep balance of power in Europe. Tsar Alexander I (Russia) - Emperor of Russia. He was one of the most powerful rulers at the Congress and wanted to increase Russia’s influence in Europe. Viscount Castlereagh (Britain) - British foreign secretary. He wanted to prevent one country from becoming too powerful and supported the balance of power. Karl August von Hardenberg – Prussian statesman who represented Prussia. Prussia wanted to gain more territory and strengthen its position in Europe..
The symbols and their meaning	Europe as fabric – symbolizes Europe being reshaped by the great powers after Napoleon’s defeat. Scissors – represent the redrawing of borders and the division of territories by powerful states. Needle and stitches – symbolize diplomacy, agreements, and attempts to “repair” Europe after years of war. Measuring tape – represents control, calculation, and the idea of balance of power. Torn fabric – symbolizes instability, war damage, and the problems caused by ignoring smaller nations.
Performance technique	Watercolour and graphic drawing techniques on paper.
Historical context	After Napoleon’s defeat, the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) gathered the most powerful rulers and diplomats of Europe to rebuild the continent and prevent another major war. They redrew borders, restored old monarchies and tried to create a balance of power. However, many smaller nations and people who hoped for independence or political change were ignored, as Europe’s future was mainly decided by the great powers themselves.

Author's name surname, grade	Lukrecija Aleknavičiūtė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas district Garliava Juozas Luksa gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Cold War: “Defending Freedom”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature criticizes the hypocrisy and rivalry between the USA and the USSR during the Cold War. Both sides claim to defend freedom while threatening the world with nuclear weapons.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam representing the United States. Vladimir Lenin representing the Soviet Union (USSR).
The symbols and their meaning	US and USSR flags – opposing political systems. Missiles – nuclear arms race and military threat. Earth between cliffs – the world endangered by superpower conflict. Cliffs/gap – political division and tension during the Cold War.
Performance technique	Hand-painted political caricature created with gouache, using symbolism, irony, exaggerated features, and contrasting colors.
Historical context	Cold War rivalry between the USA and USSR after WWII, marked by propaganda, ideological conflict, and the nuclear arms race.

Author's name surname, grade	Lukrecija Jaroslavska, 16 m., IIG
Educational institution	Trakų gimnazija
Title of the caricature	Race to destruction
The main idea of the caricature	Nuclear arms race between the USA and the USSR.
The characters depicted	Stalin and Harry S. Truman
The symbols and their meaning	Atomic mushroom – nuclear threat. Ice icicles – Cold War. Stalin – USSR. Harry S. Truman – USA.
Performance technique	Graphic arts
Historical context	The caricature depicts one of the most important issues of the Cold War – the nuclear arms race between the USA and the USSR. The years shown on the missiles – 1945 and 1949 – mark when the USA used and the USSR successfully tested their atomic bombs.

Author's name surname, grade	Lukrecija Lipskytė, 16, IIV
Educational institution	Šiaulių Didždvario gimnazija
Title of the caricature	„Napoleonas – kiaušinis ant žirgo“
The main idea of the caricature	Karikatūra pašiepiamai vaizduoja Napoleoną kaip ne itin išmintingą ir pernelyg savimi pasitikintį valdovą, kurio sprendimai gali atrodyti neapgalvoti ar net kvailoki.
The characters depicted	Napoleonas Bonapartas (pavaizduotas kaip kiaušinis) ir žirgas, ant kurio jis joja.
The symbols and their meaning	Kiaušinio forma – ne tik trapumas, bet ir užuomina į ribotą išmintį ar naivumą. Žirgas – galia, karinė jėga ir valdžia. Iškreipta Napoleono veido išraiška – pašaipa, siekiama parodyti jį juokingą. Mažas, neproporcingas kūnas – jo galios sumenkinimas.
Performance technique	Pieštuko piešinys bei juodas tušinukas, naudojant paprastus kontūrus ir minimalų šešėliavimą.
Historical context	Napoleono epochoje ir po jos karikatūros dažnai kritikavo jo karinę ekspansiją ir savęs aukštinimą, vaizduodamos jį kaip perdėtą ir pašiepiamą lyderį.

Author's name surname, grade	Lukrecija Valavičiūtė, 16, IIV
Educational institution	Šiaulių Didždvario gimnazija
Title of the caricature	„Showgirl Napoleonas“
The main idea of the caricature	Karikatūra pašiepiamai vaizduoja Napoleoną kaip tuščią, savimi besižavinčią figūrą, pabrėžiant jo ambicijas, puikybę ir galimą valdžios „teatrališkumą“.
The characters depicted	Pagrindinis veikėjas – Napoleonas Bonapartas, pavaizduotas kaip šokėja (showgirl), su moteriškais bruožais ir aksesuarais.
The symbols and their meaning	Didelė Napoleono skrybėlė – atpažįstamas valdžios ir jo asmenybės simbolis. Papuošalai (karoliai, apyrankės) – perteklinė prabanga, tuštybė. Moteriškas, šokėjos kostiumas – ironija, siekiama sumenkinti jo didybę ir parodyti kaip „vaidinantį“ valdovą. Plunksnos / dekoratyvūs elementai – teatralizmas, dirbtinumas.
Performance technique	Piešinys atliktas pieštukais ir juodu tušinuku, naudojant kontūrus ir lengvą šešėliavimą.
Historical context	Napoleono laikais ir po jo dažnai kurtos karikatūros, kritikuojančios jo valdžios siekį, karus ir savęs išaukštinimą Europoje

Author's name surname, grade	Marija Kožkutė, 9th grade, 15 years old
Educational institution	Šiauliai university gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Nuclear fight
The main idea of the caricature	This drawing illustrates the fear, tension, and danger of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when two world superpowers stood on the brink of a nuclear war.
The characters depicted	On the left, I depicted John F. Kennedy, the American president during the crisis, and Nikita Khrushchev on the right.
The symbols and their meaning	The American flag represents the USA and its role in the conflict, while the Soviet Union flag is used to symbolize communism and the power of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The two characters are shown facing each other in order to emphasize the strong rivalry between the two countries. Bombs are held in their hands to represent nuclear weapons and the threat of atomic war. In the background, fire and explosions are included to symbolize destruction, fear, and the possible outbreak of a nuclear war.
Performance technique	Colour pencils, graphics.
Historical context	In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis nearly caused nuclear war after Soviet missiles were placed in Cuba, but both sides reached an agreement.

Author's name surname, grade	Martyas Zajankauskas, 15, 1B
Educational institution	VDU "Rasos" High school
Title of the caricature	"The Industrial Revolution"
The main idea of the caricature	To show all the negatives that came from the industrial revolution.
The characters depicted	None
The symbols and their meaning	The mines and the furnace show that the industrial revolution was powered and fueled by child labor. At the top, behind the curtains, the coughing man shows how fumes from these machines were slowly killing people and polluting the air for the poor, while the rich are amazed by the machine and oblivious to harm it causes.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn with pencils
Historical context	After the beginning of the industrial revolution, factories created a lot of harmful substances, which were toxic to people. Mining facilities employed children who suffered greatly.

Author's name surname, grade	Matas Šelgunovas 10th grade 16 years old
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“The Match of Space”
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon represents the intense rivalry between the USA and the USSR during the Cold War. It shows how both countries competed to prove their power and technological superiority through achievements in space exploration.
The characters depicted	USA and capitalism ideology USSR and communism ideology
The symbols and their meaning	The eagle on the Apollo rocket symbolizes the USA, representing freedom, strength, and American national identity. The bear near the Vostok rocket symbolizes the USSR, representing Soviet power and dominance. The rockets show the competition to reach space first. The UFO with the score symbolizes the race and comparison between both nations. The moon represents the final goal of space exploration. The red and blue colors reflect the opposing political sides: communism and capitalism.
Performance technique	Coloured markers, graphic pens and pencils
Historical context	Between the 1950s and 1970s, the USA and USSR were in the Cold War, a political and technological conflict. The Space Race became one of the most important parts of this rivalry, beginning with Soviet successes like Sputnik and ending with the American Apollo Moon landing in 1969.

Author's name surname, grade	Meida Blažaitytė, 15y, 9th grade
Educational institution	VDU ‘‘Rasos‘‘ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	‘‘Two Giants, One World.‘‘
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold war. It shows how both superpowers competed for political, military, economic, and ideological dominance over the world without fighting each other directly in a large-scale war.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam – represents the USA, democracy, freedom and capitalism. The Soviet Bear – represents the USSR, communism, military strength, and Soviet power.
The symbols and their meaning	Arm wrestling - symbolizes the struggle for global influence and power. The globe-shaped table - represents the world divided between two superpowers. NATO symbol - the Western military alliance led by the USA. Money bags and gold bars - capitalism, wealth, and economic strength. Factories and skyscrapers - industrial development and technological progress. American and Soviet flags - division of the world into East and West. Speech bubbles - propaganda and opposing political ideologies. Tank - symbolizes military power, armed forces, and readiness for war. During the Cold War, both the USA and the USSR constantly strengthened their armies. Missiles/Rockets - symbolize nuclear weapons and the arms race. They represent the fear of nuclear war between the two superpowers. Hammer and sickle on the uniform and flag - symbol of communism and the Soviet Union. It represents workers and peasants united under communist ideology.
Performance technique	Colored with pencils and used shading.
Historical context	The Cold War (1947-1991) was a global political and ideological conflict between the USA and the USSR marked by propaganda, alliances, and nuclear tension.

Author's name surname, grade	MIGLĖ ABRAČINSKAITĖ
Educational institution	Kauno Jono Pauliaus II gimnazija
Title of the caricature	The Nuclear Standoff
The main idea of the caricature	Two powers, one mistake.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam, Soviet officer
The symbols and their meaning	1. Rockets – nuclear threat and military power. 2. Uncle Sam – symbol of the USA. 3. Hammer and Sickle – symbol of communism. 4. Bear – symbol of the strength of the Soviet Union.
Performance technique	Drawn by hand using colored pencils in caricature style.
Historical context	The Cold War between the USA and the USSR caused nuclear tension, an arms race, and a constant threat of global war.

Author's name surname, grade	Meida Mineikytė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Šiauliai Stasys Šalkauskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Red button
The main idea of the caricature	Both USA and USSR have such a powerful military strength, that they fear each other. This leadsto a new comical game „whoever blinks first loses“
The characters depicted	USA, USSR
The symbols and their meaning	Rockets – military strength and power Man with uniforms – leaders of USA and USSR. Red button – catastrophe of possible consequences
Performance technique	Mixed technique
Historical context	USA and USSR after WW2 were enemies and tried to gain global influence, however they feared each other‘s military strength.

Author's name surname, grade	Miglė Ožoginaitė. Sixteen years old. The ninth form
Educational institution	Kaunas John Paul II Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Playing War
The main idea of the caricature	To show that Hitler treated war like it was a game and did not think about the consequences of his actions.
The characters depicted	Hitler, as a young, careless child and Europe, as a worried, stressed mother.
The symbols and their meaning	Hitler as a child shows that he acted immaturely and carelessly while starting the war. Europe as a mother represents fear and worry about Hitler’s growing power and aggression. The ball shows Hitler “playing” with the world, as if his interests were more important than people’s lives. The toy tank represents war, violence, and destruction. The Poland and USSR toy blocks represent two countries that suffered greatly during the war. The blue stars on Europe’s dress symbolize the future creation of the European Union, which was formed to help keep peace in Europe after World War II.
Performance technique
Historical context	Before World War II, Hitler wanted to expand Germany and gain more power. Europe feared his growing aggression. After the war, countries created the European Union to keep peace.

Author's name surname, grade	Milda Ptašinskaitė, 17, IIM
Educational institution	Šiaulių Didždvario gimnazija MOKYTOJA, Diana Nemeikienė, English teacher
Title of the caricature	“I Am Not Your Trophy!”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows how, during the Space Race, the USA and the USSR treated the Moon as a prize to be won in their political and ideological rivalry, completely ignoring the ongoing conflicts and destruction on Earth.
The characters depicted	John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev.
The symbols and their meaning	Explosions on Earth symbolize the tensions during the Cold War and humanity’s suffering while politicians compete for global power. The Moon represents a prize of victory as well as political and scientific dominance. The leaders fighting over the Moon show the intense rivalry between the USA and the USSR.
Performance technique	acrylic markers
Historical context	(MAX. 180 SIMBOLIŲ) During the Cold War, the USA and the USSR competed in the Space Race while political tensions, nuclear threats and global conflicts persisted across the Earth.

Author's name surname, grade	Milisenta Buivytė, 16 m. IIb
Educational institution	Vilnius „Sostinės“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“Armed Chess Match”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature depicts the tense relationship between the United States and the USSR during the Cold War. At first glance, they appear to be calmly playing chess, but in reality both sides are holding weapons and do not trust each other. Each side expects deception or a possible attack. The chess pieces resemble nuclear missiles, creating the impression that they are “playing” with nuclear weapons and deciding the fate of the entire world. The burning world map in the background illustrates the danger of global war and the possible consequences of the conflict for all humanity.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam — symbol of the USA Soviet officer — symbol of the USSR
The symbols and their meaning	Chessboard — strategic and political struggle between states Weapons in the characters’ hands — hidden threat and distrust Missiles instead of chess pieces — danger of nuclear war Burning world map — possible consequences of global conflict Soviet officer’s uniform — military power of the USSR Uncle Sam’s clothing — influence and power of the USA
Performance technique	Acrylic paints, colored pencils, acrylic markers
Historical context	During the Cold War, the USA and the USSR competed for global influence, accumulated nuclear weapons, and feared a sudden attack from one another.

Author's name surname, grade	Minija Žemaitytė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Gymnasium of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Title of the caricature	"The Illusion of Power“
The main idea of the caricature	Even though Napoleon is exiled on the island of St. Helena, he is trapped in his own illusions, confidently believing that he still rules France and will conquer it again.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte
The symbols and their meaning	Toy board game: Napoleon's illusion that he is still commanding armies and ruling France. The oversized hat: Represents his inflated ego and historical pride. It shows that he is still clinging to his past status as an Emperor, even when he has lost everything. The sharp fingers: Symbolize his desperation and a desperate urge to hold onto power, control, and his remaining pieces of France.
Performance technique	Colored pencils and graphite pencil on paper.
Historical context	Reflects Napoleon's state during his exile on St. Helena after 1815, where he lived in the past, planning future victories while being isolated from reality.

Author's name surname, grade	Monika Linkevičiūtė, 16, 10th grade
Educational institution	Klaipėdos Vydūno Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	,,Opponent's tactics”
The main idea of the caricature	To ridicule N. Khrushchev's efforts to blindly copy the successful US corn cultivation, without paying attention to the climate of the USSR, which contributed to the collapse of the USSR economy.
The characters depicted	USSR leader Nikita Khrushchev
The symbols and their meaning	Snowflake and frozen corn wrapped in its leaves symbolize the fact that American corn varieties were completely unsuitable for the harsh climate of the Soviet Union. A cow and grain ascending to heaven, the inscription "Rest in Peace" symbolizes the collapsing economy of the USSR after N. Khrushchev tried to replace all products with "mighty" corn.
Performance technique	The drawing was made with colored pencils on a sheet of paper.
Historical context	In 1959, Khrushchev copied US corn farming to beat America. Planting it everywhere ignored climate limits, causing a massive Soviet agricultural crisis and food shortages.

Author's name surname, grade	Nelė Bertauskytė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	„The Fall of Absolutism“
The main idea of the caricature	The main idea is to show how 3rd Estate overthrew Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in the French Revolution (1789-1799). Their later fate - execution and collapse of absolutism.
The characters depicted	Louis XVI – King of France and symbol of absolute monarchy. In the cartoon, he represents royal power, privilege and the old unfair system that was challenged during the French Revolution Marie Antoinette - Queen of France and symbol of royal wealth and distance from ordinary people’s suffering. She represents the luxury of the royal court while many French people lived in poverty. The Third Estate / French common people – ordinary people, including peasants, workers and bourgeoisie. In the cartoon, they represent the force of revolution that overthrows the monarchy and absolutism.
The symbols and their meaning	The throne symbolizes power and wealth, but as you can see, the throne legs are separated in tree sections - estates. The last one is the third one and it is made of scaffolds, shackles and is on the verge of falling and not being able to hold the throne that is too heavy. It symbolizes that the royal family, the authorities didn’t care about French civilians. They only cared about themselves and the wealth, even when the people were starving, in poverty and couldn’t live properly with given taxes. The Third Estate carries the heaviest burden, showing social inequality before the revolution. The people below the throne symbolize French civilians that at that time were at the bottom of the social chain. The authorities didn’t care about them so they’re below the throne and on the ground, because the throne was glorified. Furthermore, the French civilians are also colored in France flag colours: blue - liberty (liberté), white - equality (égalité), red - fraternity (fraternite) The ropes that the people are pulling symbolizes that the Third estate (common people) were the ones who threw Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette out of the throne, dethroned them. The bonfires symbolizes peoples rebellion and rage that they want this system to change, that it is not fair and that this system is collapsing of incompetence. The shacks made out of wooden planks symbolizes that people were in poverty and couldn’t live in normal housing. Guillotine symbolizes the execution of Louis XVI in 1793 and Marie Antoinette in 1793 after the monarchy was overthrown . “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.” These words show the revolutionary ideals: liberty, equality and fraternity. They explain what the people were fighting for. Absolutisme.” This word shows the system the revolutionaries wanted to destroy: absolute monarchy, where the king had almost unlimited power.
Performance technique	Graphic liner, pencil and colored pencils
Historical context	The caricature represents the French Revolution (1789-1799), during which Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were overthrown by the Third estate, because the authorities didn’t care that the nation was suffering from social inequality, hunger and poverty. The people became angry because they were threated and finally rebelled . That led to absolutism being destroyed, and common people demanded liberty, equality and fraternity.

Author's name surname, grade	Nikol Petrova, 16, 10th grade
Educational institution	High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences “Akademik Nikola Obreshkov”, Burgas, Bulgaria
Title of the caricature	When the stairs ended
The main idea of the caricature	It satirizes how Napoleon’s megalomania and political ambition completely outgrew the reality of his actual historical victories, leading him into empty space without a solid foundation.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte: Drawn short and disproportionate, completely oblivious to his surroundings, eyes directly fixed on the viewer. The Loyal but Terrified Officer: He stands firmly on the last solid step, representing the grounded reality of the military. He is trapped in a position where he must follow his leader into the abyss, privately apologizing for the laws of nature and geography failing to support Bonaparte’s endless climb.
The symbols and their meaning	The “Short” Proportions and Giant Hat: Napoleon’s torso is drawn intentionally stubby and compact, playing directly into the historical British propaganda caricature of “Little Boney”. To compensate, his iconic bicorne hat is comically oversized, symbolizing how he used grand military symbols, titles, and uniforms to artificially construct a larger-than-life persona. The Ambitiometer: The Ambitiometer’s scale ends at “max”, but Napoleon’s head is literally in the clouds. This symbolizes a complete loss of ground reality- his ambition has made him believe he can defy the laws of geopolitics. The Thought Buble: It symbolizes the silent realization among Napoleon’s top generals and advisors that his grand plans had crossed the line into madness. The officers sees the physical reality, the steps have literally run out, but because Napoleon is floating in his own delusion, the officer can only apologize in his own mind for the reality of the situation. By thinking “We apologize”, it represents the entire French army and state apparatus being dragged into empty space by one man’s ego, forced to apologize for the fact that reality cannot keep up with his infinite ambition. Napoleon is standing on the very edge of the cliff, looking confidently at the audience, totally oblivious that his next step forward will be a drop into the abyss (the disastrous campaigns ahead).
Performance technique	Colored pencil, markers and fine-liner drawing on paper, utilizing a metaphorical comic-strip style with a thought bubble for historical satire.
Historical context	Follows Napoleon's rise from Toulon (1793), through Marengo, Austerlitz, his 1804 Coronation, and the destruction of Prussia at Friedland (1807). Standing on this final step, he looks proudly at the viewer at the absolute peak of his European hegemony. The caricature captures the exact historical turning point where his "stairs" of solid military victories completely ran out, leaving his maxed-out ambition to push him over the edge into the disastrous campaigns in Spain and Russia.

Author's name surname, grade	NIKA MERKULJEVA 16 IID (10D)
Educational institution	VILNIAUS „SOSTINĖS“ GIMNAZIJA
Title of the caricature	NAPOLEON IS CARVING UP EUROPE
The main idea of the caricature	Napoleon plans to expand his empire by conquering Russia and adding it to the territories already under his control.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte, represented as a ruler dividing Europe
The symbols and their meaning	 A broken pin over Moscow — Napoleon’s Russian campaign will ultimately end in failure.  Scissors — Napoleon’s attempt to divide and control Europe.  The map fragments — European territories conquered or influenced by Napoleon.  Russia on the paper — Napoleon’s desire to add Russia to his empire.  The armchair/throne-like chair — Napoleon’s power and imperial ambitions.
Performance technique	Mixed media: pencil, pen, and watercolor
Historical context	During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon sought to dominate Europe and invade Russia, but the 1812 campaign ended in a disastrous defeat.

Author's name surname, grade	NIKOL ANTIPOVA, 15 IC (9C)
Educational institution	VILNIAUS „SOSTINĖS“ GIMNAZIJA
Title of the caricature	THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN EUROPE
The main idea of the caricature	The bourgeoisie profits from the hard labor of workers.
The characters depicted	The bourgeoisie and male workers
The symbols and their meaning	 Machine — technological progress  Smoke — environmental pollution  Technological inventions — machinery, weaving loom / textile loom
Performance technique	Mixed media: colored pencils and watercolor paints
Historical context	The Industrial Revolution transformed Europe through industrialization, technological innovation, urban growth, and harsh working conditions.

Author's name surname, grade	Nikol Uzunova, 16 years old, X grade
Educational institution	High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences "Akademik Nikola Obreshkov"
Title of the caricature	“The final bet”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature presents Napoleon as a gambler who risks the destiny of France and his empire in one final attempt to achieve victory and maintain control over Europe, while fate and circumstance slowly turn against him. It shows Napoleon Bonaparte sitting at a gambling table in the European casino “Maison de la Fortune”, playing a high-stakes game against the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Prince of Wahlstatt. The scene presents politics and war as a dangerous game of chance in which the fate of entire nations is decided. Instead of chips, Napoleon is betting miniature figures of soldiers representing the French Old Guard, which he desperately pushes toward the center of the table as an “All-in” bet. This symbolizes how Napoleon sacrificed thousands of soldiers in his final attempt to preserve his power and empire. Instead of cards, there is a map of Europe on the table labeled “Future of France”, symbolizing that not only territories, but the future of France itself, is at stake. In the center of the table there is a roulette wheel divided into sections labeled “War”, “Power”, “Empire”, “Glory”, “Fate”, and “Victory”. These words represent the main goals and consequences of Napoleon’s rule - endless wars, the pursuit of political power, imperial ambition, military glory, and ultimately the role of destiny in his downfall. Napoleon holds his last remaining chip marked “Empire”, symbolizing that he is risking everything in order to win one final victory and save his empire. However, the roulette arrow clearly points to the “Fate” sector, foreshadowing his inevitable defeat at Waterloo and suggesting that no ruler can escape destiny. Across from him sit his opponents, the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard von Blücher, both calm and triumphant, representing the allied British and Prussian forces. While Napoleon appears nervous, desperate, and overwhelmed, Blücher is calmly drinking a glass of wine. This symbolizes confidence, patience, and certainty in Napoleon’s defeat. It also creates a strong contrast between Napoleon’s panic and the composure of his enemies, suggesting that the allies already believe victory is guaranteed. In the background, through the casino window, the silhouettes of the burning battlefield of Waterloo can be seen. The flames and smoke symbolize destruction, chaos, and the collapse of Napoleon’s empire, while also reminding the viewer of the real human cost of war hidden behind political ambition and military glory. The caricature references the historical circumstances of the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon delayed his initial attack because he wanted the muddy and rain-soaked battlefield to dry so that his artillery could move more effectively. However, this delay gave Blücher’s Prussian forces enough time to regroup, march to the battlefield, and attack the French army from the flank. In this way, the “Fate” sector on the roulette wheel symbolizes not only Napoleon’s poor decisions, but also the uncontrollable factors, such as weather and timing, that contributed to the collapse of his empire
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte The Duke of Wellington Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Prince of Wahlstatt French soldiers of the Old Guard
The symbols and their meaning	Casino “Maison de la Fortune” - symbolizes politics and war as a dangerous game of chance Roulette wheel - represents uncertainty, destiny, and Napoleon’s risky decisions “War”, “Power”, “Empire”, “Glory”, “Fate”, “Victory” - symbolize the goals and consequences of Napoleon’s rule “Empire” chip - Napoleon risking everything to save his empire Miniature soldiers - the sacrifices of the French army “Future of France” map - the future of France being placed at risk Blücher drinking wine - confidence and certainty in Napoleon’s defeat Burning battlefield outside the window - the destruction and chaos caused by war and the collapse of Napoleon’s empire Arrow pointing to “Fate” - Napoleon’s inevitable defeat at Waterloo
Performance technique	Hand-drawn graphic made with a fineliner.
Historical context	The caricature refers to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815 and the fall of his empire.

Author's name surname, grade	Nojus Plukas, 16 years old, 10th grade.
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Korea will be mine!
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature visualizes the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953), in which North and South Korea strived to unite the Korean Peninsula under their ideologies. It depicts the involvement of foreign powers in the conflict, such as USA and China.
The characters depicted	Kim Il-Sung - the communist leader of North Korea. He wanted to unite Korea under communist rule and was supported by China and the USSR. Syngman Rhee - the anti-communist president of South Korea. He wanted to unite Korea under his government and was supported by the USA. Douglas MacArthur – an American general who commanded UN and US forces during the Korean War. In the caricature, he symbolizes American military support for South Korea. Chinese soldier - represents China’s involvement in the Korean War. China supported North Korea and sent troops to fight against UN and US forces.
The symbols and their meaning	Syngman Rhee, the president of the Republic of Korea, and Kim Il-Sung, leader of the DPRK, are dragging their side of the Korean Peninsula towards themselves, symbolising the tensions between North and South Korea during this period. There is a gap beginning to form in the middle, symbolising how Korea was split into two nations. Syngman Rhee is seen holding the South Korean flag and is supported by Douglas MacArthur, who is looking over his shoulder, symbolising American aid. Kim Il-Sung is seen holding a North Korean flag, with a Chinese soldier also appearing behind him, symbolising the Chinese involvement in the war. There are two battleships, one being from the US Navy, and the other one from the Chinese Navy, symbolising the direct shipment of foreign troops to Korea and their technological military support.
Performance technique	Colored pencils, graphic pen.
Historical context	The Korean War was a conflict during the start of the Cold War in 1950, fought on the Korean Peninsula, which had been split into two nations with opposing ideologies. The leaders of both nations wanted to unite Korea under their rule and ideology. During the war, there was a heavy involvement of foreign powers, with North Korea being aided primarily by China, and South Korea being aided primarily by the US.

Author's name surname, grade	Orestas Stonkus 16 2A
Educational institution	Plungės ,,Saulės“ gimnazija
Title of the caricature	"Tense lunch"
The main idea of the caricature	Caribbean (Cuban) crisis
The characters depicted	Family members: mother (USSR) and child (Cuba); Uncle Sam (USA) looking out the window
The symbols and their meaning	The palm trees visible outside the window indicate that the action takes place in Cuba. The refrigerator with bombs symbolizes the Soviet Union's secret delivery of medium-range ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads to Cuba. The child (Cuba) asks for food, and the mother (USSR) shows him that there are only bombs to eat. The calendar page with the date - the date of the conflict. The man looking out the window - the US learns about Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Performance technique	I made a sketch with simple pencils, then used colored pencils and pens for the outline.
Historical context	The Cuban Missile Crisis was a Cold War conflict between the United States and the USSR that took place from October 14 to 28, 1962. It is considered one of the most tense conflicts. The world found itself on the brink of nuclear war. It was resolved diplomatically, by agreement between the parties.

Author's name surname, grade	Ralitsa Slavova, 16 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics acad. Nikola Obreshkov, Burgas, Bulgaria
Title of the caricature	The Paradox of Progress
The main idea of the caricature	The negative outcome of the Industrial Revolution
The characters depicted	Knocker – uppers – human “alarm clocks” Working children and adults
The symbols and their meaning	The clock tower – symbolises the long day ahead James Watt’s Steam engine – The First Industrial Revolution Railway – The First Industrial Revolution The patches on the clothing – symbolises poverty Smoke – pollution and industrialisation
Performance technique	Graphic drawing
Historical context	The First Industrial Revolution (late 18th to mid-19th century) drove massive economic progress but this caricature represents the negative aspects of it such as the exploitation of child labor, the long working day that lasts from 14 to 16 hours, all the new factories and the negative environmental impact that they have on the planet, poverty. The human ingenuity does not work in favour of ordinary people. Most of the workers could not afford to buy an alarm clock so they paid people to wake them up because it was cheaper to hire somebody than to risk losing your job. That is how the profession “knocker – upper” was established. The revolution created the modern capitalist economy and triggered deep social inequality.

Author's name surname, grade	Ronja Erkes, 15 metų, 1 gimnazijos klasė
Educational institution	LSMU gimnazija
Title of the caricature	“Forged by Iron and Blood”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows that the unification of Germany was achieved not through discussion or democracy, but through war, power, and force led by Bismarck.
The characters depicted	Otto von Bismarck - is a symbol of political power and leadership German soldiers - represents war and military force The hand (symbolic) - represents control and authority over Germany
The symbols and their meaning	Helmet (Pickelhaube) - symbolizes Prussian military power and dominance Eagle emblem - represents the German Empire and unity Map of German states - shows fragmented Germany before unification Bismarck’s figure - symbolizes political strategy and control Soldiers and smoke - represent war as the tool of unification Hand placing the spike - symbolizes forced unification from above
Performance technique	Black-and-white pencil drawing (graphite), using shading, contrast, and detailed realism typical of historical political caricature.
Historical context	The caricature refers to the process of German unification in the 19th century, mainly led by Otto von Bismarck, the Prime Minister of Prussia. Before unification, Germany was not a single country but a collection of many independent states such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Prussia. Bismarck believed that these states could not be united through speeches or democratic decisions. In his famous statement, he declared that the great issues of the time would be decided by “iron and blood,” meaning military strength and war. Between 1864 and 1871, Bismarck led Prussia through a series of important wars: the Danish War (1864), the Austro-Prussian War (1866), and the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871). Each of these conflicts weakened or removed opposition and helped unite the German states under Prussian leadership. After defeating France, the German Empire was officially proclaimed in 1871 in the Palace of Versailles. The caricature reflects this idea by showing that Germany was “forged” through military power, not peaceful negotiation, emphasizing the role of war, control, and political strategy in creating a unified nation.

Author's name surname, grade	Raminta Venckutė, 16 metų, 10 klasė
Educational institution	Rietavo sav. Tverų gimnazija
Title of the caricature	„Just Hanging A Curtain“
The main idea of the caricature	To ironically depict the beginning of the Cold War and the division of Europe into two hostile ideological camps, showing how Stalin trivialises what was, in reality, a vast geopolitical divide.
The characters depicted	Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin
The symbols and their meaning	The Iron Curtain – a massive metal structure stretching across the whole of Europe, visually revealing that this is a solid, impenetrable wall between East and West. Stalin in a green uniform, smoking a pipe, holding “The Long Telegram” in his hand – an allusion to G. Kennan's analysis sent from Moscow to the U.S. government in February 1946. The map with red and blue areas depicts the division between the Soviet sphere of influence and Western Europe. The ironic title “Just hanging a curtain” exposes the hypocrisy of Soviet discourse and the forced division of Europe.
Performance technique	The student drew with a pencil and coloured with felt-tip pens of her chosen colours.
Historical context	The beginning of the Cold War and the ideological struggle that emerged between the USSR and the West.

Author's name surname, grade	Roy, Augonis, 14, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Freedom from the chains
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature is about how Lincoln has saved slaves and fought against oppression and slavery.
The characters depicted	The characters shown in the caricature are USA President Abraham Lincoln who abolished slavery in USA in 1865 and the slave set free from the chains of slavery.
The symbols and their meaning	The broken chains: Freedom and the end of slavery Abraham Lincoln: justice and equality Dark background: hard and painful times Bruises and wounds: suffering and cruelty of slavery Slave: suffering; oppression
Performance technique	Different types of alcohol markers and acrylic markers. Cross-hatched with different pens.
Historical context	This drawing depicts the time of the American Civil War (1861-1865), when Abraham Lincoln was fighting to end slavery and give freedom and equality to enslaved people. So , at this time , the United States was split into confronting sides: the North and South , because of Slavery . This led to a civil war. Lincoln’s leadership and actions helped shift the war toward ending slavery (slavery was abolished in the USA by the 13th Amendment in December 1865) and uniting the country. The era is remembered as a turning point in American history, symbolizing the struggle for human rights, justice, and national unity.

Author's name surname, grade	Saulė Sabaitytė, 16 years old, 1C
Educational institution	Vytautas Magnus University "Rasos" Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The truth behind the emergence of factories
The main idea of the caricature	Behind every factory, there’s a hard working child from the past
The characters depicted	Peasant child
The symbols and their meaning	Factory – mechanical work, child – labour work
Performance technique	Drawing
Historical context	During the Industrial Revolution, factories became symbols of progress, yet they hid a darker truth. Children as young as five tolerated 16-hour shifts in dangerous, suffocating conditions. Peasant families, left with nothing, were forced to send their children to work. Reformers such as Charles Dickens worked tirelessly to expose this unfairness, but significant child labor laws took decades to emerge.

Author's name surname, grade	Saulė Skulskytė, 16, IIP
Educational institution	Šiaulių Didždvario gimnazija
Title of the caricature	„Keeping peace“
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature criticizes the hypocrisy of the two Cold War superpowers, The United States and the Soviet Union, They claimed ti protect the peace, but actually made wars worse by giving weapons and support.
The characters depicted	Uncle Sam/ USA Firefighter, J, Stalin/ USSR Firefighter
The symbols and their meaning	Fire (“Proxy Wars”) – conflicts caused indirectly by superpowers Small water hoses – fake/weak peacekeeping Gasoline cans – military aid, money and political interference Signs (“Korea”, “Vietnam”, “Afghanistan”) – Cold War proxy wars countries
Performance technique	Watercolours
Historical context	During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union competed for power and influence around the world. Instead of fighting each other directly, they supported different sides in wars in places like Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Both countries said they wanted peace, but they often made conflicts worse by giving weapons and money. The caricature shoes this hypocrisy by presenting them as firefighters pretending to stop a fire while secretly helping it grow.

Author's name surname, grade	Silvija Šikšniūtė, 16 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas district Garliava Juozas Luksa gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“The Working Class Crime”
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon criticizes poverty and social inequality during the Industrial Revolution. Wealthy factory owners blame poor families for having children they cannot support, while at the same time exploiting workers and forcing even children to work in factories in order to survive.
The characters depicted	A wealthy factory owner / capitalist. A poor mother. Working-class children.
The symbols and their meaning	Factory chimneys and smoke – industrialization, pollution, harsh working conditions. The capitalist’s top hat and cigar – wealth, power, and indifference to the poor. Poorly dressed mother and children – poverty and social inequality. Stones on the ground – hardship and the difficult life of workers.
Performance technique	Black-and-white hand-drawn caricature using satire, strong contrast and shading.
Historical context	During the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, factory owners exploited cheap labor, and many poor families sent their children to work in factories to survive.

Author's name surname, grade	Smiltė Jegorovaitė, 17 years old , 10th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas ,,Saulės“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The illusion of democracy
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon illustrates how during the rule of Anta- nas Smetona, democracy existed only on papaer: while the people expressed ideals of freedom, justice, and participation, real power was maintained through control and force, making democratic processes only a facade.
The characters depicted	Antanas Smetona, townspeople
The symbols and their meaning	The whip Represents force, fear and oppression showing how power is maintained through coercion under Antanas Smetona. People at the ballot box Symbolize the appearance of democracy suggesting that voting and democracy exists. The protest Represent the people’s ideals and hopes.
Performance technique	Watercolor
Historical context	In 1926, after a military coup, Antanas Smetona came to power in Lithuania, and the country gradually shifted toward an authoritarian regime. Although Lithuania was a democratic a republic formally, real political competition was heavily restricted. The parliament (Seimas) was weakened, the opposition parties were limited or shut down, and the press was censored. The power became concentrated in the hands of the president, making elections and democratic institutions formal rather than genuinely competitive. As a result, people could still go through the process of voting, but real political freedom and choice were strictly limited.

Author's name surname, grade	Tanya Sivova, 17 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences “Akademik Nikola Obreshkov”, Burgas, Bulgaria
Title of the caricature	The Emperor’s Nursery: Napoleon Playing with the World
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature presents Napoleon Bonaparte as a child whose toys symbolize his ambitions, victories and wars. Although he appears playful and innocent, every object around him represents his determination to dominate Europe and transform military success into imperial power.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte as a child, a loyal French soldier standing at attention, and a defeated enemy soldier lying on the floor.
The symbols and their meaning	The nursery presents Napoleon as an oversized child, showing restless ambition. The rocking horse turns conquest into a game. The globe-shaped rattle symbolizes his dream to control nations. The cannon recalls his beginnings as an artillery officer. The imperial crown represents the power he pursued and gained in 1804. The toy soldiers symbolize loyalty and defeated kingdoms.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature on A4 paper, created with graphite pencil and colored pencils. The artwork uses precise contour drawing, smooth blending, careful shading, cartoon exaggeration and symbolic composition.
Historical context	The Napoleonic period emerged after the French Revolution. Napoleon became Emperor in 1804, modernized France through reforms, but his wars caused destruction, instability and millions of deaths before his final defeat at Waterloo in 1815.

Author's name surname, grade	Tija Stankutė, age 15, form 9
Educational institution	Eržvilkas Gymnasium of Jurbarkas district
Title of the caricature	Last Journey
The main idea of the caricature	Napoleon exiled by the British government
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte
The symbols and their meaning	Canon with the British flag, representing the British government. Sunset representing the end.
Performance technique	Acrylic markers
Historical context	After the Battle of Waterloo, the British government sends Napoleon to the island of St. Helena.

Author's name surname, grade	Tina Sivova, 17 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences “Akademik Nikola Obreshkov”, Burgas, Bulgaria
Title of the caricature	The Grand boxing match of the nations (1914-1918)
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature presents World War I as a boxing match between the Great powers of Europe, showing political rivalry, alliances, militarism and the desire for dominance that led to a devastating global conflict and conveys the idea that war brings nothing but destruction.
The characters depicted	King George V(the king of Great Britain), President Raymond Poincare(the president of France),King Nicolas II(the king of Russia), Kaiser Wilhelm II(the leader of Germany), King Franz Joseph II(the king of Austria-Hungary), Sultan Mehmed V Rashad(the leader of Ottoman Empire)
The symbols and their meaning	The boxing ring- The ruined boxing ring symbolizes Europe transformed into a battlefield during World War I. Normally, a boxing ring is a place for competition with rules and limits, but its destruction in the caricature shows that the war exceeded all boundaries of humanity and diplomacy, representing chaos, suffering and the collapse of peace in Europe. The symbol emphasizes that war does not create true winners, but leaves only devastation and loss behind.; The map of Europe- The map of Europe placed beneath the leaders symbolizes that the entire continent became the stage of conflict. Every country shown on the map reflects the political tensions, alliances and territorial ambitions that contributed to the outbreak of World War I. By standing directly on the map, the rulers metaphorically “fight over Europe,” showing how nations and ordinary people became victims of imperial ambitions and the thirst for dominance.; The leaders of the Entente vs. the Central Powers- The rulers symbolize the two opposing military alliances that divided Europe. King George V, Raymond Poincaré and Tsar Nicholas II represent the Entente Powers, while Kaiser Wilhelm II, Emperor Franz Joseph I and Sultan Mehmed V Rashad represent the Central Powers.The face-to-face positioning visually recreates the confrontation that led to global war.; The boxing gloves- The boxing gloves symbolize military power, aggression and the willingness of nations to solve conflicts through violence rather than diplomacy. Instead of communication or negotiation, the leaders are prepared to “fight,” reflecting the militaristic spirit of the early twentieth century. The gloves also represent the idea that war was treated like a contest for prestige, influence and dominance between the great empires of Europe.; The boxing shorts with national flags- The boxing shorts decorated with the flags of each kingdom or empire symbolize national identity, patriotism and imperial pride. Each ruler “wears” the identity of his nation, showing loyalty to the state he represents.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature on A4 paper, created with graphite pencil, black fineliner and colored pencils. The artwork uses precise contour drawing.
Historical context	The First World War (1914–1918) was one of the most significant conflicts in modern history. Although the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered the war, its deeper causes were militarism, nationalism, imperial ambition for colonies, territories and economic supremacy. Europe became divided into two major alliances: the Entente powers- Great Britain, France and Russia, and the Central Powers- Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. The conflict was fueled by the ambition of the great powers to expand their influence, reinforce their empires and gain control over important trade routes and overseas possessions. This pursuit of dominance increased political tension. Military strength and aggressive diplomacy gradually replaced peaceful cooperation and mutual understanding. The war devastated Europe both physically and economically. Millions of soldiers and civilians lost their lives, entire cities were ruined and several empires collapsed. The conflict permanently transformed the political map of Europe and demonstrated that the quest for power and imperial expansion leads not to glory, but to suffering, destruction and long-lasting instability.

Author's name surname, grade	Ūla Žemaitė, 16 years old, IIMYP 10th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Politics Not Sports
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature shows how the Cold War Olympic boycotts changed sports into a political fight. The United States and the Soviet Union used the Olympics to show power instead of peace and unity.
The characters depicted	Leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union.
The symbols and their meaning	Olympic rings symbolize peace, unity and international sports. The leaders pulling the rings represent political conflict. Stretched rings symbolize damage to Olympic spirit. “Politics Not Sports” emphasizes politics over fair competition.
Performance technique	Pencils, black marker for outline.
Historical context	During the Cold War, the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Author's name surname, grade	Urtė Gatelytė, 17 years old, 2E
Educational institution	Kauno ,, Saulės” gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Napoleon’s biggest miss
The main idea of the caricature	Napoleon believed he could conquer everything, but Russia became the obstacle that stopped his ambitions.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte
The symbols and their meaning	Ball- World Nett- Russia Shooter- Napoleon Bonaparte
Performance technique	Graphics
Historical context	In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia to expand his empire. He thought he could easily win, but the harsh winter and Russian strategy destroyed his army. This defeat weakened Napoleon’s power.

Author's name surname, grade	Vakarė Bladykaitė, 16 metų, 1 gimnazijos klasė
Educational institution	Klaipėda „Aukuras“ gymnasium
Title of the caricature	The Third Estate Carries France
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon shows the social inequality in pre-revolutionary France. The Third Estate carries the entire nation while the clergy, nobility, and the king enjoy power and privileges without helping ordinary people.
The characters depicted	The King of France The clergy The nobility Members of the Third Estate (peasants and workers)
The symbols and their meaning	The platform “Privileges” – unfair social system and inequality; Exhausted people holding the platform – the burden carried by the Third Estate; Bags of money – wealth and economic privilege; “No rights, no voice, no power” – lack of political rights for common people “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” – revolutionary ideals and demands for justice; The castle – monarchy and absolute power.
Performance technique	Hand-drawn caricature using black marker and pencil
Historical context	The cartoon represents pre-revolutionary France, where the Third Estate supported the country while the clergy and nobility enjoyed privileges.

Author's name surname, grade	Viktorija Kelpšaitė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Šiauliai Stasys Šalkauskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Napoleon’s last roll
The main idea of the caricature	Power and ambition taken to absurd extremes.
The characters depicted	Napoleon Bonaparte
The symbols and their meaning	Napoleon’s hand in his vest → power, confidence, his iconic image
Performance technique	Mixed technique
Historical context	Napoleon conquered Europe in the 1800s. The drawing satirizes his ambition by showing him doing it for a ridiculous reason: running out of toilet paper.

Author's name surname, grade	Viltė Švedaitė, 16 years old, 10th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	“Watch your step, Mr. Kennedy!”
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature portrays Kennedy balancing on a fine line between peace and the start of a nuclear war, while tensions and communist powers pulled the world towards destruction.
The characters depicted	The main figure is John F. Kennedy, shown nervously walking on the rope, showing the intense pressure of managing the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
The symbols and their meaning	The cracking rope represents how fragile peace was at the time of 1962, marking the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis. JFK is shown distressed walking carefully on the rope, whilst holding a broken telephone and a compass. The phone symbolizes the need for communication and the catastrophe that could arise in the case of miscommunication. The compass symbolizes Kennedy’s “Flexible Response” strategy using different approaches instead of taking rational war actions. The chained USSR missiles symbolize the Soviet’s threat, whilst Cuba island is hanging beneath the rope showing how the country became the main center of crisis. The two aggressive dogs represent the USSR and China. It symbolizes the strong communist power and pressure from both sides surrounding the conflict. If Cuba were to fall, the chain connecting the dogs would break, erupting chaos and escalted aggression. USSR dog symbol mean the Soviet Union is threatening, aggressive, and putting pressure on Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. China dog symbol - China was not into conflict, but it reacted to the Soviet Union action and the hegative outcome after the end of crisis, so the dog is barking to USSR Cracking chain between dogs – symbol of Soviet – Sino split.
Performance technique	Pencil, black fineliner pen, red marker.
Historical context	The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis became one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War after the Soviet Union secretly placed missiles in Cuba, close to the US. President Kennedy responded with a naval blockade and many diplomatic negotiations in order to prevent nuclear war. During this period communication was weak, increasing the global anxiety of civilians. At the end of the day, JFK’s “Flexible Response” strategy gave the United States multiple military and diplomatic choices instead of relying on nuclear weapons and aggression.

Author's name surname, grade	Viktorija Majstruk, 16 years old, 10 grade
Educational institution	Kaunas International gymnasium (Kauno Tarptautinė gimnazija)
Title of the caricature	SOCIAL INEQUALITY
The main idea of the caricature	Inequality between the I, II and III estates.
The characters depicted	On the top – people representing the I and II estates; on the bottom – a person representing the III estate.
The symbols and their meaning	The I and II estates are wearing rich clothes, while the person of the III estate is wearing cheap, old and low-quality clothes. The ball represents the main difference between them, suggesting that all people should have been equal from the beginning, since the only difference was their social status.
Performance technique	Paper A4, black-ink pen, colourful pencils.
Historical context	It represents the social pyramid during the French Revolution: the I and II estates were higher and lived easier lives, while the III estate carried many burdens, worries and problems.

Author's name surname, grade	Viltė Baršytė 16 metų, 10m klasė (II gimnazijos klasė)
Educational institution	Klaipėdos „Vydūno“ gimnazija.
Title of the caricature	„The MAD - box“ I called the caricature “The MAD Box”, referring to the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), which was one of the main principles of the Cold War. MAD describes a situation in which both sides possess enough nuclear weapons to completely destroy each other in the event of an attack. Because of this, neither side could truly “win” a nuclear war, since both would suffer guaranteed destruction. The title also combines the words “sandbox” and MAD, turning the children’s play area into a symbolic “box of death” or even a “box of madness.” This wordplay emphasizes the dangerous absurdity of the situation. What appears to be a simple children’s game actually represents a deadly military strategy capable of destroying the entire world. In addition, the word “mad” means angry or insane, which perfectly describes the behavior of the children in the caricature. They act immaturely, selfishly, and irresponsibly while playing with the fate of humanity. Instead of solving conflicts peacefully, they compete with each other like stubborn children, without understanding the catastrophic consequences of their actions.
The main idea of the caricature	The caricature exposes the absurd irresponsibility of the Cold War superpowers by portraying the USA and the USSR as immature children trapped in a geopolitical “sandbox.” Although they are obsessively competing to collect ideological “sand” into their buckets, they remain completely oblivious to the deadly threat hidden beneath them — a looming nuclear catastrophe. The striking contrast between the childish nature of their game and its potentially fatal consequences highlights how world leaders, blinded by ambition, rivalry, and ideological fanaticism, treated the fate of humanity as if it were merely a temporary competition. At the same time, the caricature suggests that their so-called “playground” was in reality a ticking minefield, where every reckless move brought the world closer to a thermonuclear apocalypse.
The characters depicted	The USA and the USSR (depicted as young children) – symbolize political infantilism, immaturity, and ambitions that outweigh common sense.
The symbols and their meaning	The Sandbox and The Map: The background map, showing countries shaking hands, symbolizes official propaganda and diplomatic lies—the world is being told that peace is the goal. However, the foreground reveals the grim reality: the "world sandbox," where the USA and the USSR, like reckless children, are tearing the planet apart piece by piece. The Flags and the Iron Wall: The flags (Poland, Cuba, Korea, etc.) represent the nations turned into geopolitical hostages. They are immobilized, stuck in the sand, and separated by the Iron Wall—a literal representation of the Iron Curtain that physically and mentally fractured Europe into East and West. The Propaganda Posters: Posters like “Mir, Mi Sledim,” “History,” and “Let’s make sure it stays cold” serve as tools of brainwashing. They loudly proclaim "peace" and security, creating a peak of absurdity: while the posters talk about "keeping it cold," the children beneath them are boiling with tension, preparing for an inevitable clash. The Buckets, Thermometer, and Clock: This is a geopolitical chain reaction. As the children aggressively sort sand into their “Democracy” and “Communism” buckets, the rising thermometer signals a fever pitch of political tension. Meanwhile, the ticking clock warns that time for these "games" is running out, as humanity's resources and patience reach a breaking point. The Bombs and the Skull: Labeled “Handle with care,” these are the deadly foundation of the entire scene. The childish game is played atop a massive pile of nuclear weapons, emphasizing that a single careless move in the sandbox will blow up the entire room—the entire world.
Performance technique	The artwork was created using watercolor, colored pencils, and a black gel pen. Watercolors were used to make a soft and colorful background that looks similar to children’s drawings. This helps create the feeling of a sandbox game and gives the picture a playful atmosphere. Colored pencils added stronger colors, shadows, and more detail to the drawing. The black gel pen was used for clear outlines, writing on the posters, and small details that make the image easier to understand. The combination of these materials creates an interesting contrast between the innocent, childlike style and the serious theme of nuclear danger and the Cold War. This contrast helps show the absurdity of world powers behaving like children while the future of humanity was at risk.
Historical context	The Cold War (1946–1991)) was a period of political, ideological, and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR). Although the two superpowers never fought directly in a full-scale war, they competed for global influence and divided the world into two opposing systems: capitalism and communism. Europe became separated by the “Iron Curtain,” which divided Western democratic countries from Eastern communist states controlled by the USSR. Nations such as Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, and East Germany fell under Soviet influence, while Western Europe was supported by the USA through alliances like NATO. The Cold War was marked by propaganda, espionage, proxy wars, and the nuclear arms race. Both sides built enormous numbers of nuclear weapons, creating fear that a single conflict could destroy humanity. Important events included the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the Space Race, and the construction of the Berlin Wall. The conflict ended in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, bringing an end to decades of global tension and ideological rivalry.

Author's name surname, grade	Viltė Lipinskaitė, 16 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Kaunas John Paul II Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	"The Weight of the Forbidden Word"
The main idea of the caricature	The cartoon depicts the spiritual and physical struggle for the native language and education during the period of the press ban, emphasizing the risk and sacrifice of the book smuggler.
The characters depicted	A book smuggler carrying a bag full of books, and a tsarist officer (gendar) trying to detain him.
The symbols and their meaning	Falling books - the relentless spread of knowledge; The border is a state ban and restriction of freedom; The book sack is a heavy but noble burden of Lithuanianness.
Performance technique	Graphite and colored pencils.
Historical context	1864–1904. The Russian Empire imposed a ban on the Lithuanian press. Book smugglers secretly transported books printed in Latin characters, risking exile to Siberia or prison Gendarme: "Hold! What is in that bag? More of those 'poisonous' Lithuanian books?" Book smuggler: "You can build walls and seize the paper, but you will never imprison the spirit of our language!"

Author's name surname, grade	Viltė Rimkutė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Šiauliai Stasys Šalkauskis Gymnasium
Title of the caricature	Angry cake
The main idea of the caricature	Cake Napoleon tries to invade Europe
The characters depicted	Cake, Europe, soldiers
The symbols and their meaning	Cake – Napoleon, Europe - juice
Performance technique	Mixed technique
Historical context	During Napoleon's era, Europe feared his power. This caricature satirizes that fear by showing even a cake version of Napoleon leading an army to invade the continent.

Author's name surname, grade	Viltė Vačikauskaitė, 15 years old, 9th grade
Educational institution	Stasio Šalkauskio gymnasium
Title of the caricature	There and back
The main idea of the caricature	Napoleon expects glory, but winter and harsh conditions lead to his defeat and retreat.
The characters depicted	Napoleon, Russian winter landscape.
The symbols and their meaning	Snow - harsh winter. Empty field - defeat. Map - invasion Pointing Napoleon - overconfidence.
Performance technique	Watercolor, comic style.
Historical context	In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia, but winter and supply problems forced him to retreat.

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2025
2026

Balandžio 14-19 d. gimnazijoje vyko Erasmus+ projektas „Culture in Motion“, kurio esmė - pažinti partnerės šalies kultūrą bei istoriją per sporto bei judėjimo prizmę. 8 klasės mokiniai, kurie svečius iš Vokietijos, Kaselio miesto „Wilhelmsgymansium“ mokyklos, šiltai priėmė į savo šeimas, kartu su porininkais vokiečiais lankėsi „Lietuvos etnografijos muziejuje“, kur artimiau susipažino su senovės lietuvių buitimi , mokėsi tradicinių kaimo jaunimo žaidimų, mokė vieni kitus judėjimo žaidimų per fizinio ugdymo pamokas, sužaidė draugišką futbolo mačą, neformaliojo švietimo veiklose svarstė apie tai, koks požiūris užtikrintų, kad kultūriniai skirtumai nevirstų barjerais. Taip pat jie lankėsi „Lietuvos krepšinio namuose“, kur turėjo progą sužinoti daugiau apie krepšinio istoriją nepriklausomybės bei okupacijos metu bei pasvarstyti apie tai, kaip sporto kultūra veikia tautinę tapatybę, o projektą vainikavo apsilankymas „Žalgirio“ pergalingose krepšinio rungtynėse.

Projekte dalyvavę mokiniai dalinosi įspūdžiais, minėdami, kad tai buvo puiki galimybė išmokti drąsiau bendrauti su užsieniečiais.

Dėkojame visiems bendruomenės nariams už sėkmingą iniciatyvą - atsakomybę priėmusioms šeimoms, mokytojams: Kristei Timofejevai, Simonai Drulei, Mariui Dimšai, Dovydui Nemeikšai, socialinei pedagogei Editai Kavaliauskienei ir projektų koordinatorei Urtei Žukauskaitei.

Kovo 16-21 d. gimnazijos I-III klasių mokinių delegacija dalyvavo Erasmus+ projekte „Media Literacy for Active European Citizens“ Strasbūre, Prancūzijoje. Projekto esmė - skatinti jaunųjų ES piliečių aktyvumą bei atsakingą naudojimąsi žiniasklaidos priemonėmis. Mokiniai gyveno priimančiose prancūzų šeimose bei lankėsi pamokose „College Episcopal Saint Etienne“ mokykloje. Delegacija lankėsi Europos Parlamente, kur daugiau sužinojo apie institucijos struktūrą bei komitetus. Delegacija lankėsi vienoje svarbiausių žurnalistų bei komunikacijos profesionalų organizacijoje Strasbūro mieste, kur susipažino su Europos žinių koordinatoriumi Guillaume Arlen. Jis papasakojo moksleiviams apie žurnalistikos pagrindus. Vėliau susitiko su Loreline Merelle - dėstytoja Strasbūro universiteto žurnalistikos mokykloje, kuri supažindino mokinius su žurnalisto vaidmeniu visuomenėje. Mokiniai taip pat dirbo grupėse kurdami pranešimus pasirinktomis temomis.

Moksleiviams šis projektas padėjo daugiau sužinoti apie procesus bei spaudos vaidmenį Europos Sąjungoje, gyvenimas šeimose suteikė galimybę giliau pažinti Prancūzijos kultūrą, patobulinti prancūzų kalbos įgūdžius, o Strasbūro miestas pasirodė ypač ekologiškas, skatinantis pagalvoti apie dažnesnį dviračio kaip transporto priemonės naudojimą.