German art has a long and distinguished history, Malen nach Zahlen starting with the earliest known figurative works in the 15th century, to its current output of contemporary art. Despite the fact that Germany has only been unified into a single state since the 19th century, the country has produced an enormous variety of figurative work.
It’s often said that German painters are some of the most creative in the world, with their evocative depictions of landscapes and portraits attracting admirers from all over Europe. The most famous painters in this country are Albrecht Durer, Hans Holbein the Younger, and Caspar David Friedrich, all of whom revolutionized art in their time.
But it was after the First World War that many of these artists began to make a name for themselves, as they used their art to express the pain and frustration of their times. One of the most influential movements in 20th-century art, German Expressionism, emerged from this era and was led by figures such as Kandinsky, Klee, Marc, and Munter.
While some German painters were more progressive than others, they all shared a sense of autonomy and freedom. This was in stark contrast to the right-wing ascendancy that had dominated the country’s art scene before the First World War.
A few years ago, I visited a show of the work of Neo Rauch at Eigen+Art in Leipzig, Germany. He had a painting entitled Handlauf, which showed a woman holding hands with a man in leather boots.
What struck me about this image was that the man’s legs were distorted, and that his face seemed to be an extra leg to the side of the main one. This is not a typical depiction of a love scene, but the picture was so powerful and emotive that it had me glued to the wall for most of the day.
There are several different interpretations of the meaning of this painting, but it’s most likely a reflection of the political climate in early 20th-century Germany. It’s a testament to how far the people of Germany were willing to go to fight for their rights.
It’s also a reminder that Germany has a history of suffering and struggle, and it isn’t without its share of tragedy and pain. The painting was made by a woman who lost her son during the First World War, and whose grandson died in the Second World War.
In a recent interview, the artist explained how she incorporated discarded clothes into her work to convey her feelings. Her drawings are now hung at the Neue Wache in Berlin, one of the city’s most prominent memorials to victims of war.
Another artist who uses discarded materials is Anselm Kiefer, who works in straw, ash and clay to depict the Nazis’ crimes against humanity. His work has been shown at various international exhibitions and is sold for high prices in galleries across the world.
This painting is not a traditional portrait, but it is an extraordinary example of German realism. It was painted in the late 19th century, and is one of the most popular motifs in German landscape art.