Otto Dix
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Individual Artists
Otto Dix Details
From the Inside Flap This generously illustrated monograph on Otto Dix presents the work of the controversial German artist renowned for his unflinching portrayal of life during war time and the aftermath of violence. Read more
Reviews
Otto Dix (1891-1969) was a leading artist of the German Expressionist movement. He saw service in the German army during the entire course of World War One. His horrific experiences in the trenches of the Western and Eastern fronts had an immense influence on his psyche and his art. By the 1930's he was labelled as a degenerate artist by the Nazi regime and his ascerbic, grotesque style that was so harshly critical of the corruption of Weimar society dimmed dramatically. It was only in his later years that he was to receive a measure of the recognition that he deserved.This book is a catalogue of an exhibition being presently held at the Neue Gallerie New York. It is the first retrospective of Dix's work to be held in North America and this volume is presently the only monograph in the English language available on this artist. While the exhibition features paintings, drawings and etchings created between 1919 and 1938, most emanate from the twenties, his greatest period. There are 170 art works illustrated in excellent color; included are 50 gruelling etchings from the renowned 1924 War cycle. Additionally there are portraits and scenes from life in Weimar Germany.Dix's art makes uncomfortable viewing but there is a penetrating and powerful voice in his artistic vision. There is only a small overlap of paintings featured in the Metropolitan Museum's Glitter and Doom exhibition. Apart from the illustrations there are a variety of informative essays about Dix's life and world. This is an excellent publication that I recommend highly to those interested in 20th century art.