Acquisition of George Grosz drawings by Berlin’s Akademie der Künste after trial
George Grosz, known for his caricature-like figuration that critiqued the social and political realities of Berlin in the early 20th century, faced a major art scandal during the Weimar Republic. He stood trial for a controversial drawing that depicted Jesus on a cross wearing a gas mask, titled “Shut up and do your duty.” The drawing was created for Erwin Piscator’s staging of “The Good Soldier Švejk” in 1928, and was part of a series of 300 drawings that included animated sequences with soon-to-be-banned imagery.
The controversial portfolio of drawings led to a three-year trial where Grosz and publisher Wieland Herzfelde were eventually acquitted but ordered to render the graphics and printing blocks unusable. Despite this, Herzfelde managed to hide the Christ drawing for years and later bequeathed it to Berlin’s Akademie der Künste. Recently, the academy launched an exhibition featuring 13 additional sheets from the “Soldier Švejk” series, including the previously banned work “Be subjects of the authorities.”
These little-known works, central to Grosz’s legacy and political commitment, will be on public display in July at Berlin’s Kleine Grosz Museum, the first institution dedicated to Grosz’s work. The exhibition will showcase reproductions of the original set design figures, as well as additional works-on-paper from private collections and museums. This rare opportunity to see Grosz’s works together in one room highlights the significance of these pieces, which may not be shown again for a long time.
Don’t miss the upcoming exhibition “Was sind das für Zeiten? – Brecht, Grosz und Piscator” at the Kleine Grosz Museum in Berlin, from 4 July to 25 November.
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Leonie Schultz completed her studies in Digital Media and Design at the Berlin University of the Arts. She focuses on digital installations and interactive art, often incorporating elements of sound and light to create immersive experiences. Leonie has been involved in several digital art festivals and is known for her innovative approach to storytelling through technology.