Otto Dix

Date of Birth: December 2, 1891

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: July 25, 1969

Biography

Otto Dix was a German painter and printmaker, noted for his ruthless and harshly realistic depictions of Weimar society and the brutality of war. Born on December 2, 1891, in Untermhaus, Germany, Dix was strongly influenced by the experiences he had while serving in World War I. His work often explored themes of violence, suffering, and the grotesque aspects of human nature. After the war, Dix became associated with the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement, which emphasized a realistic and unsentimental approach to art. His works from this period, such as “The War” and “The Trench,” are considered some of the most powerful anti-war statements ever made. During the Nazi regime, Dix’s work was condemned as degenerate, and he was dismissed from his teaching position at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. He continued to paint and draw in a more subdued style until his death on July 25, 1969, in Singen, Germany.

5 Interesting Facts about Otto Dix

1. Otto Dix served as a machine gunner during World War I, which had a profound impact on his artwork.

2. He was a leading figure of the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement, which sought to depict reality without romanticism or idealization.

3. Dix’s work was labeled as “degenerate art” by the Nazis, and many of his pieces were removed from museums and destroyed.

4. He survived two assassination attempts during the Nazi regime due to his outspoken political views.

5. Dix’s triptych “The War” (1929-1932) is considered one of the most important anti-war artworks of the 20th century.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Otto Dix

1. “Art is exorcism. I paint dreams and visions too; the dreams and visions of my time.”

2. “All art is exorcism. I paint my own reality.”

3. “I will either be famous or infamous.”

4. “I had to experience how someone beside me suddenly falls over and is dead, and the bullet has hit him exactly in the heart. I had to experience that quite directly.”

5. “To be a painter, one must work with one’s hands, but one must also work with one’s brain.”