Symbolic Meaning of the Female Body in Anti-Japanese War Painting: Catastrophe of the Temporary Capital

From 1938 to 1944, the Japanese invaders carried out indiscriminate bombings on Chongqing and its surrounding cities, causing a severe impact on society. Artists have responded to this historical disaster, especially as a common theme in painting. This study aims to describe the female body through the oil painting The Catastrophe of the Second Capital and to interpret the meaning of signs and symbols through the constructed conceptual framework. This study uses a qualitative research approach based on documents and observation. The results show that the female body has multiple meanings, such as bravery, resilience, and fragility.