Otto Dix
„Laufgraben vor Loretto“
Artist
Otto Dix
Additional Description
Bleistift auf bräunlichem Velin. (Um 1916). Ca. 29 x 29 cm. Signiert unten links sowie verso betitelt.
Period
(1891 Untermhaus bei Gera - Singen 1969)
Technique
Works on paper
Ausstellung
Otto Dix. Zeichnungen der 20er Jahre, Günther Franke Galerie, München, 1971, Kat.-Nr. 94, Abb. ; Otto Dix - Zwischen den Kriegen. Zeichnungen, Aquarelle, Kartons und Druckgrafik 1912-1939, Haus am Waldsee, Berlin 1977, Kat.-Nr. 4, Abb. S. 40 ; Otto Dix. Zeichnungen aus dem Nachlaß 1911-1942, Kunsthalle, Kiel 1980, Kat.-Nr. 8, Abb. ; Otto Dix. Die frühen Jahre, Erholungshaus der Bayer A.G., Leverkusen u.a. 1989/90, ohne Abb. ; Otto Dix, Kunsthalle Krems, Krems u.a. 2009-2014.
Literature
Conzelmann, Otto, Der andere Dix. Sein Bild vom Menschen und vom Krieg, Stuttgart 1983, S. 98, Abb. 138; van Lil, Kira, Otto Dix und der Erste Weltkrieg. Die Natur des Menschen in der Ausnahmesituation, München 1996/2000, Abb. 150.
Provenance
Galerie Günther Franke, München 1971; Sammlung/Nachlass Serge Sabarsky, New York; Sammlung/Stiftung Vally Sabarsky, New York.
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Description
Otto Dix volunteered for military service in 1914 and fought at the front for almost four years. He was initially deployed in the field artillery and later as a machine gunner.
During this time, Dix made thousands of sketches and drawings directly at the front. These later served as the basis for his war painting cycles, in which he depicted the cruelty and absurdity of war in an unembellished manner. The present drawing was created on the Loretto Heights in northern France, the scene of a bloody battle between German and French troops in 1915. However, our drawing was created over a year later, as Dix was only deployed there between August and October 1916. His experiences, which were characterised by the misery of trench warfare and the omnipresent danger of death, are reflected in many of his works.
Lorenz WK 5.4.44.
During this time, Dix made thousands of sketches and drawings directly at the front. These later served as the basis for his war painting cycles, in which he depicted the cruelty and absurdity of war in an unembellished manner. The present drawing was created on the Loretto Heights in northern France, the scene of a bloody battle between German and French troops in 1915. However, our drawing was created over a year later, as Dix was only deployed there between August and October 1916. His experiences, which were characterised by the misery of trench warfare and the omnipresent danger of death, are reflected in many of his works.
Lorenz WK 5.4.44.