Felix Nussbaum

by Berger, Eva; Jaehner, Inge; Junk, Peter; Kaster, Karl Georg; Meinz, Manfred; Zimmer, Wendelin; Kaster, Karl Georg

• ISBN13: 9780879517892
• ISBN10: 0879517891
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-09-01
• Publisher: Overlook Pr

Summary

The retrospective of the work of Felix Nussbaum in the Kulturgeschichtliches Museum Osnabruck in 1990 and the catalogue, Felix Nussbaum Are Defamed - Art in Exile - Art in Resistance, fully established Nussbaum's artistic rank and his position in the art of the twentieth century. The representative collection of his most important works, on permanent display in the upper gallery of the Kulturgeschichtliches Museum in Osnabruck, is a constant witness to this. Nussbaum's art reflects the course of the first half of this century like that of no other painter - the tranquil life in the provinces, the rapid tempo of life in the capital Berlin, emigration, the camp, war and the conquest of Europe by Nazi Germany, then the exclusion of the Jewish people by a policy of racism, life underground and in hiding, and finally the extermination of the Jews in Europe. Above all, his last paintings, an eye witness account of the Holocaust to which he himself eventually fell victim, are unique in art. The catalogue for the 1990 exhibition has become a standard work on Felix Nussbaum and on resistance in art, stimulating a reconsideration of this away from the clichees of Agitprop. Hence, The Overlook Press is issuing a new and fully revised edition of the book. It includes paintings by Felix Nussbaum that have come to light in the last five years, among them the major group of works that were left behind in Amsterdam when his parents were arrested. All the new facts that have emerged on Nussbaum's life and the new details that have become known on his artistic contacts have been taken into account, and the interpretation of many individual paintings has been given greater depth or corrected in accordance with the latest state of research. The many comparisons with works by other European artists should help to widen understanding of the analysis of Nussbaum's works in art history.

Table of Contents

Rediscovering Nussbaum's Works	17	(8)
Biographical Data	25	(4)
Childhood and Youth	29	(2)
Portrait of a Young Man (Self-Portrait)	30	(1)
Adaption and the Cultural Identity The Young Felix in a Jewish Community	31	(6)
"Remain Pious"	32	(1)
"The Two Jews" ("Interior of Osnabruck Synagogue")	32	(5)
Confronting his Father's Art World Views in the Provinces (1925-1927)	37	(13)
"Fairground"	39	(1)
Kermesse	39	(1)
"Storehouse"	40	(1)
"Streetscene" ("Old Berlin")	41	(1)
"My Mother"	41	(2)
"My Father"	43	(1)
"Mill in East Friesland"	44	(1)
"Windmill in Xanten, White Mill"	45	(1)
Body of a Mill near Xanten	45	(1)
The Hakenhof in Kommenderiestrasse in Osnabruck	45	(2)
Portrait of a Young Man ("Portrait of the Painter Karl Hutloff")	47	(3)
Predestined Affinity - Van Gogh (1927-1928)	50	(8)
"Talea"	50	(1)
Still-Life with Basket of Washing	51	(1)
"Self-Portrait" (Self-Portrait in a Green Hat)	52	(2)
Drawbridge across a Moorland Ditch	54	(1)
Portrait of the Artist's Mother	55	(1)
Sunflowers	55	(3)
Nussbaum's Pictorial World (1928)	58	(14)
Drawing from the painting Burial	59	(1)
"The Post Office Yard" ("Postmen")	60	(2)
"Country Postman"	62	(1)
"Radio Tower No. 2"	63	(1)
"Lovers"	64	(1)
"Gypsy"	64	(2)
Gypsy Woman	66	(2)
"Burial"	68	(1)
"Grief" ("Widow at the Window")	69	(1)
"Self-Portrait with Mask"	69	(3)
Good-bye to the Models (1929-1930)	72	(11)
Country Road with Felix Nussbaum Painting	72	(1)
"My Studio" ("Picture of the Studio")	73	(3)
Street Cafe in Ostend	76	(1)
Men mending Nets in a Street in Ostend	77	(1)
"Ostend (Jetty in Ostend)"	77	(1)
Belgian Landscape with Houses	78	(1)
"Belgian Landscape"	78	(1)
"Arles sur Rhone, Avenue of Tombs, Les Alyscamps"	79	(2)
Landscape in Provence	81	(1)
"Cagnes sur Mer"	82	(1)
"A Sense of Grief" (1930)	83	(25)
"Two Brothers"	83	(2)
"Gymnasts"	85	(1)
"Winner of the Cycle Race I" ("Fritz Krause at the Peak of His Career")	86	(1)
"Winner of the Cycle Race II"	86	(4)
Memory of Nordeney	90	(1)
Villa Nordsee	91	(3)
"Cemetery with Windmill" ("Cemetery")	94	(1)
Drawing from the painting Cemetery with Windmill	94	(2)
"Gallows" (Funeral)	96	(1)
"Dance by the Wall" (The Coffin-Bearers)	96	(4)
"The Cheerless Road"	100	(1)
Afraid of the Dog	100	(1)
"The Pessimist"	101	(3)
Composition sketch for the painting Group Portrait	104	(1)
"Group Portrait"	104	(4)
A New Generation The Breakthrough (1931)	108	(20)
"The Fantastic Square"	108	(7)
"The Shameless Skulpture"	115	(1)
Drawing from the Painting Hall of Classical Sculpture	115	(1)
"Antique Park"	116	(4)
The Painter in his Studio	120	(1)
The Hurdy-Gurdy Man	121	(4)
Three Women	125	(2)
"Embryos" ("Children before the Church and the State")	127	(1)
Reward for Achievement The Villa Massimo in Rome (1932-1933)	128	(20)
"Black Poodle"	129	(1)
"Sinful Thought"	130	(1)
Narcissus	131	(1)
Carnival Mask (minor prize)	131	(2)
Shepherd and Statue	133	(1)
Studio in the Villa Massimo	134	(1)
Wall in Rome (2)	134	(1)
Wall in Rome (1)	134	(2)
Trattoria in a Roman Suburb	136	(1)
"South Wind"	136	(1)
Backyard with Ladders	137	(1)
"Suburban Church in Rome"	137	(1)
"Policeman in Rome" (Carabiniere)	137	(4)
Destruction (1)	141	(3)
Villa in Rome	144	(1)
Entombment (Organ Grinder at the Roman Forum)	144	(1)
Destruction (2)	145	(2)
Folded Leaf Book	147	(1)
An Emigrant Tourist (1933-1934)	148	(15)
Railway Station in Alassio	149	(1)
Fishing Boats	150	(2)
"Fisherman's House"	152	(1)
White Boat by a Wall	152	(2)
On the Beach at Alassio	154	(1)
"Fishing Boats with Island"	155	(1)
Seascape with Fishermen	155	(1)
The Bay of Alassio	156	(1)
View of the Sea at Alassio	156	(1)
"Alley to the Sea"	156	(2)
Ristorante Saline	158	(1)
Two Towers	158	(2)
Scallop and Conch	160	(1)
"Landscape" (Tree behind a Wall)	161	(1)
Road Tunnel	162	(1)
Disorientation for the Painter in Exile Ostend (1935)	163	(22)
Bench by a Cemetery	163	(1)
"The Sick Horseman"	164	(3)
"The Comic Concert" ("The Classical Singing Lesson")	167	(1)
Singer and Statue	168	(3)
Felka Platek Painting	171	(2)
Interior with Still-Life	173	(1)
Snowman	174	(1)
Two Masks	175	(1)
"Masks and Cat"	176	(3)
Painter with Mask	179	(2)
Self-Portrait with Stretcher	181	(2)
Self-Portrait with Painter's Cloth	183	(2)
His Own Face (1936)	185	(22)
Self-Portrait at the Drawing Board	185	(1)
Self-Portrait under an Archway	186	(1)
Self-Portrait as Grimace (1)	187	(1)
Self-Portrait as Grimace (2)	188	(2)
Self-Portrait with Mask and Paper Horn (1)	190	(1)
Self-Portrait with Mask and Paper Horn (2)	190	(2)
Self-Portrait with Scarf (2)	192	(1)
Self-Portrait with Scarf (1)	192	(1)
Self-Portrait with Head Bandage	193	(1)
Self-Portrait with Crazy Laugh	194	(1)
Self-Portrait with Green Head Bandage	195	(1)
Self-Portrait with Shadow	196	(1)
Self-Portrait in front of Houses	196	(1)
Self-Portrait Whistling	197	(1)
Portrait of Felka Platek	198	(1)
Self-Portrait with Apple	198	(1)
Self-Portrait with Beret	199	(1)
Painter at his Easel between Pines	200	(1)
Self-Portrait with Tea Towel	200	(3)
Self-Portrait with Brother	203	(1)
Self-Portrait seen from Below	204	(2)
Portrait of Justus Nussbaum	206	(1)
Waiting and Uncertainty (1936-1937)	207	(24)
Dockyard in Ostend	207	(2)
Anglers in the Harbour	209	(1)
Dover Ferry	209	(1)
Ship in the Dock	209	(1)
"Boats"	210	(2)
Pier with Bollard	212	(1)
Steamship in a Canal	213	(1)
Harbour Scene	214	(2)
Pivot Bridge in Ostend Harbour	216	(1)
"Locomotive"	217	(3)
"Fish Market"	220	(2)
On the Harbour Wall	222	(4)
Forest of Masts	226	(1)
Boat Mast with a Ship's Lantern	226	(1)
View over the Railings	227	(1)
Mast of a Boat	227	(1)
"Dream of the March of the Valve and Piston Robots"	228	(1)
"The sunflowers are amazed at Pegg's capricious umbrella, which is taking root and growing above their heads"	228	(1)
"Jan en Mie"	229	(1)
Gymnasts (from the painting of 1929)	229	(1)
Emden Town Hall	230	(1)
Felka Platek - Painter, Faithful Companion, Wife	231	(12)
Self-Portrait in a Hat	237	(1)
Illustration in the margin of a marriage paper	237	(2)
Drawing from Felka Platek's Portrait of Madame Etienne	239	(1)
Portrait of Felka Platek with Arms Crossed	240	(2)
Armchair with Still-Life	242	(1)
The Beginnings of Political Art (1937-1938)	243	(16)
Self-Portrait in Three-Quarter Profile	243	(1)
Man behind the Window (Self-Portrait after Adriaen van Ostade)	243	(1)
Don Quixote and the Windmills	244	(3)
View from the Studio	247	(1)
Still-Life with Barred Window	248	(1)
"Still-Life" (Still-Life with Barred Window)	248	(2)
"Pearls"	250	(2)
"Man with Flower"	252	(5)
Self-Portrait in the Studio	257	(1)
Painter and Model	258	(1)
Stagnation and the Price of Recognition (1938-1939)	259	(12)
Ostend Harbour Basin	258	(1)
Two Men at the Harbour	259	(2)
Surreal Landscape	261	(1)
Surreal Landscape with Couple	261	(2)
Self-portrait in a Surreal Landscape	263	(3)
Hurdy-Gurdy Man in a Surreal Landscape	266	(1)
Still-Life with Umbrella	267	(1)
Still-Life with Coffee Pot	268	(3)
1939 -- Interim Assessment	271	(3)
The Annihilation of Jewish Culture Man without a Homeland (1939)	274	(17)
Masquerade	275	(6)
Topsy-Turvy World	281	(1)
Study of a Tree (Anamorphosis)	281	(2)
"The Refugee"	283	(1)
The Refugee (Vision of Europe)	283	(2)
The Wandering Jew (Wanderer in the Mountains)	285	(2)
Self-Portrait with Scabious Flower	287	(1)
Self-Portrait with Apple Blossom	288	(3)
Art against the National Socialist Dictatorship "Secret Message" (November 1939)	291	(12)
Bombardment, "(Version II)"	291	(1)
Bombardment, "(Version 1)"	292	(3)
Silence!	295	(1)
Preliminary drawing for the painting The Secret	295	(1)
"The Secret"	296	(4)
Woman with Puppet	300	(3)
Felix Nussbaum's "Nature morte" Waiting on the West Front (1939-1940)	303	(22)
View from the Window of Avenue Nouvelle in Winter	302	(1)
Studio in Brussels	303	(1)
Two Horses	304	(2)
Still-Life with Brushes and Kippers	306	(1)
View from the Studio with Gloves (Over the Roofs)	307	(1)
Still-Life with Glove	307	(1)
Still-Life with Gloves	308	(1)
View from the Studio at Night with Tea Towel (Over the Roofs)	308	(2)
Still-Life with Football	310	(2)
Still-Life with Wine Bottle	312	(1)
Still-Life with Peony	313	(2)
Still-Life with Kitchen Scales	315	(1)
Still-Life with Manikin (Tombola)	315	(1)
Presents	316	(2)
Still-Life with Asters	318	(1)
Still-Life with Wall Clock	318	(2)
Still-Life with Cat	320	(2)
Still-Life with Grapefruit	322	(3)
The Camp (1940)	325	(18)
"Draft for a Painting": St. Cyprien	327	(3)
Boots	330	(1)
Prisoner	330	(1)
Huddled Prisoner	331	(2)
Self-Portrait in the Camp	333	(2)
Still-Life with Books and Glove	335	(1)
Draft for the Painting Camp Synagogue	336	(1)
Camp Synagogue	337	(1)
Self-Portrait with Key	338	(4)
Landscape near Rome	342	(1)
Persecution Measures directed against the Jews in Occupied Belgium (1941)	343	(16)
Still-Life with Boxes	343	(1)
Woman Weeping	344	(2)
Man with Withered Leaf	346	(1)
"Draft for a Painting": Two Women	347	(1)
Two Women	348	(1)
Women Grieving	349	(1)
Draft for the Painting Women Grieving	350	(2)
Young Couple	352	(1)
Fear (Self-Portrait with his Niece Marianne)	353	(1)
"The Tempest" (The Persecuted)	354	(5)
Doomed to Die (1942)	359	(9)
View of the Garden behind Rue Archimede	360	(1)
Prison Yard (The Man in the Tree)	360	(2)
Prison Yard	362	(1)
Landscape on the Outskirts of Rome	362	(1)
Loneliness	362	(2)
Self-Portrait in a Shroud	364	(4)
Should They Take to Flight or Hold Out? (June 1942)	368	(13)
"St. Cyprien (unfinished)"	372	(1)
Draft for the painting St. Cyprien	373	(1)
"Evening" (Self-Portrait with Felka Platek)	374	(7)
Fear and Isolation in Hiding (March 1943)	381	(14)
Harvest with Approaching Thunderstorm	381	(1)
Still-Life with Paint Brushes	382	(2)
The Kitchen in Hiding	384	(1)
Still-Life with Bottles and Pot	384	(1)
Still-Life with Nail	385	(2)
Still-Life with Saw	387	(1)
Still-Life with African Sculpture	388	(2)
Still-Life with Egg	390	(1)
View from the Studio Window	391	(1)
Still-Life with Cactus	392	(1)
Still-Life with Doll and Tennis Racket	392	(3)
Art as Resistance (1943)	395	(16)
Draft for a painting: Death Playing in a Duet	395	(1)
"Organ Grinder"	396	(4)
Manikins	400	(3)
Self-Portrait at the Easel	403	(5)
Self-Portrait with Jewish Identity Card	408	(3)
Loneliness in the Face of Death (1943-1944)	411	(21)
Couple Grieving	411	(3)
Jew by the Window	414	(5)
Draft for the Painting The Damned	419	(3)
The Damned	422	(2)
Draft for the Painting Group of Three	424	(1)
Group of Three	425	(4)
Jaqui in the Street	429	(3)
The End (18 April 1944)	432	(18)
Study of a skeleton playing the clarinet for the painting Death Triumphant	435	(1)
Study of a skeleton playing the clarinet for the painting Death Triumphant	436	(1)
Study of a skeleton playing the drum for the painting Death Triumphant	436	(1)
Preliminary drawing for a group of three -- A drummer, an organ grinder and an angel playing the flute for the painting Death Triumphant	436	(1)
Study of a skeleton playing the clarinet for the painting Death Triumphant	437	(2)
Drawing of a skeleton blowing a cornet for the painting Death Triumphant	439	(1)
Death Triumphant (The Skeletons Playing for the Dance)	440	(2)
Draft for the painting Death Triumphant	442	(8)
The Reception of Felix Nussbaum's Work and Its Place in Art History	450	(11)
Karl Georg Kaster
Concordance of Works Titles	461	(10)
List of Exhibitions	471	(4)
Bibliography	475	(7)
Locations	482	(2)
General Index	484	(13)
Photographs	497