Europe in the 20th Century was afflicted with many tribulations, foremost among these being the World Wars. With most countries reeling from wartime losses, the global citizenry suffered. In response to this, as is generally the case when faced with such destitute conditions, the population had two basic options: succumb to the privations of their present circumstance, or contend with them using art, philosophy, and community to reckon and survive in spite of them.