Early Life and Training
Wilhelm Heinrich Otto Dix, a renowned German painter and printmaker, was born on December 2, 1891, in Untermhaus, Germany. As the eldest son of an iron foundry worker and a seamstress who had written poetry in her youth, Dix was exposed to art from an early age. His hours spent in his cousin's studio, Fritz Amann, a painter, were decisive in forming young Otto's ambition to become an artist.
Artistic Career
Between 1906 and 1910, Dix served an apprenticeship with painter Carl Senff, beginning to paint his first landscapes. In 1910, he entered the Kunstgewerbeschule in Dresden (Academy of Applied Arts), where Richard Guhr was among his teachers.
- Metropolis (1928), a scornful portrayal of depraved actions of Germany's Weimar Republic.
- The Trench (1923), which depicted dismembered and decomposed bodies of soldiers after a battle, caused a furore that led to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum hiding the painting behind a curtain.
- War Cripples, a series of paintings that unveil the ugly side of war and illustrate their forgotten status within contemporary German society.
Notable Exhibitions and Collections
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The Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Germany, which features works by various artists including Otto Dix.
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The Goethe-Museum, Frankfurt, Germany, dedicated to the life and work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of Germany's most famous writers and statesmen.
Legacy and Impact
Dix was a key figure in the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement, alongside George Grosz. His ruthless and harshly realistic depictions of Weimar society and the brutality of war continue to influence artists today.
**Important Links:**
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Otto Dix | 341 Artworks
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The Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Germany
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The Goethe-Museum (Frankfurt, Germany) - A Haven for Art Lovers