This series confronts the horrors of war, offering a visceral portrayal of fear, pain, and desperation during the Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1949), a pivotal struggle for independence from Dutch colonial rule. These works depict not only the starvation, violence, and suffering of war but also the resilience and humanity of the children caught in its wake. For Vunderink, this chapter of history was profoundly personal. His partner, Lex, experienced the war’s atrocities firsthand as a child, and the stories Lex shared left a lasting impact on the artist. Creating these works became a means for Ido to process the pain and trauma that Lex endured, transforming their shared grief into a powerful artistic statement. The paintings are haunting yet captivating, evoking the intense emotions and struggles of those who suffered during this turbulent period. Ido’s approach emphasises universality, compassion, and empathy, using the figures in his works as symbols of the broader human experience of displacement, trauma, and survival. They serve as a reflection on the human cost of war and the enduring strength of the human spirit. The use of watercolour on paper lends an added urgency and immediacy to the series. The medium allowed Ido to work quickly, layering images and emotions in a raw, unfiltered process. The resulting compositions are striking in their emotional depth, capturing both the chaos of war and the fragility of life.