The Online Otto Dix Project

A German Artist and Print Maker
 
Leuchtkugel erhellt die Monacu-ferme <br /><i>Flare illuminates the farm at Monacu</i>
Leuchtkugel erhellt die Monacu-ferme
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #17
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Leuchtkugel erhellt die Monacu-ferme
Flare illuminates the farm at Monacu

Year: 1924

Description: Flares were launched in order to illuminated enemy troops. For Dix they revealed horrific images of human destruction.

Provenance: Der Krieg; #17
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



Dead sentry in the trenches <br /><i>Toter Sappenposten</i>
Dead sentry in the trenches
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #18
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Dead sentry in the trenches
Toter Sappenposten

Year: 1924

Description: Throughout this series, Dix presents a wide array of ways in which a soldier can meet his death. We've seen men ripped by bullets as they were tangled in barbed wire or buried alive as a trench collapsed. In this plate, a soldier remains posed in the exact position he held at the moment the sniper's bullet found its target.

Provenance: Der Krieg; #18
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



Totentanz anno 17 (Hohe Toter Mann) <br /><i>Dance of death 1917 - (Dead Man's Hill)</i>,
Totentanz anno 17 (Hohe Toter Mann)
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #19
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Totentanz anno 17 (Hohe Toter Mann)
Dance of death 1917 - (Dead Man's Hill),

Year: 1924

Description: The idea was to cut through the enemy defenses with artillery in advance of the assault. The best laid plans of mice and men...

Provenance: Der Krieg; #19
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



Die II. Kompanie wird heute Nacht abgelost <br /><i>Second Company will be relieved tonight</i>
Die II. Kompanie wird heute Nacht abgelost
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #20
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Die II. Kompanie wird heute Nacht abgelost
Second Company will be relieved tonight

Year: 1924

Description: Description

Provenance: Der Krieg; #20
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



Battle weary troops retreating - Battle of the Somme <br /><i>Abgekampfte Truppe geht zuruck - Sommeschlacht</i>
Battle weary troops retreating - Battle of the Somme
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #21
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Battle weary troops retreating - Battle of the Somme
Abgekampfte Truppe geht zuruck - Sommeschlacht

Year: 1924

Description: Early in the battle, British troops advanced along a 25 mile front after a lengthy bombardment. The Germans retreated to reserve treches. The British advance soon stalled in the face of re-established machine gun positions. In the end, the Allies moved the front less than seven miles. Over a million men perished. Here Dix illustrates the results of the early British success.

Provenance: Der Krieg; #21
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



Night-time encounter with a madman <br /><i>Nachtliche Begegnung mit einem Irrsinnigen</i>
Night-time encounter with a madman
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #22
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis

Night-time encounter with a madman
Nachtliche Begegnung mit einem Irrsinnigen

Year: 1924

Description: A man never knew what he'd encounter on night patrol. Here Dix finds a madman who roams the rubble. It's not clear to which army he's assigned. His uniform is shredded along with his mind. The man represents an indirect threat. In this state, he can't harm an experienced soldier but he can draw the attention of those who can...

Provenance: Der Krieg; #22
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis



Dead man in the mud <br /><i>Toter im Schlamm</i>
Dead man in the mud
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #23
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Dead man in the mud
Toter im Schlamm

Year: 1924

Description: Mud defined a soldier's experience on the Western Front. He marched in it, slept in it, fought in it and often died in it. For the artist it offered rich textures which Dix captured nicely with aquatint.

Provenance: Der Krieg; #23
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



Bomb-crater with flowers - Spring 1916 <br /><i>Granattrichter mit Blumen - Fruhling 1916</i>
Bomb-crater with flowers - Spring 1916
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #24
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Bomb-crater with flowers - Spring 1916
Granattrichter mit Blumen - Fruhling 1916

Year: 1924

Description: This is one of the few prints in the series to offer hope. The landscape remains marred but wild flowers start to grow. While humans are capable of great destruction, they are no match for the earth's ability to regenerate life.

Provenance: Der Krieg; #24
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



The ruins of Langemarck <br /><i>Die Trummer von Langemarck</i>
The ruins of Langemarck
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #25
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

The ruins of Langemarck
Die Trummer von Langemarck

Year: 1924

Description: During the Third Battle of Ypres, British troops captured Langemarck located near the strategic objective of Passchendaele. A German counter-offensive re-captured most of the ground around Langemarck. This lithograph likely depicts what was left of the town after Dix and the Germans returned. For their part, the British troops ultimately captured Passchendaele and declared victory. When the battle ended, little was changed on the Western From except the casualty lists, 310,000 on the Allied and 260,000 on the German side.

Provenance: Der Krieg; #25
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra



Dying soldier <br /><i>Sterbender Soldat</i>
Dying soldier
By Otto Dix
Der Krieg; #26
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra

Dying soldier
Sterbender Soldat

Year: 1924

Description: His hair appears as a crown of thorns and life slips from his body. His body is torn to shreds and irreparable. The artist can only wait for this martyr to Imperial ambition to slip into oblivion.

Provenance: Der Krieg; #26
National Gallery of Austrailia
Canberra