George Grosz Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

George Grosz (Berlin, 26 July 1893 - Berlin, 6 July 1959) was a German painter. Between 1909 and 1911 he studied at the Dresden Academy, intending to become a history painter. Read the full biography

George Grosz Biography

George Grosz (Berlin, 26 July 1893 - Berlin, 6 July 1959) was a German painter. Between 1909 and 1911 he studied at the Dresden Academy, intending to become a history painter. He then made copies of works by the ancient masters, in particular by Rubens, exhibited in the Dresden art gallery. In 1913 he stayed in Paris, where he came into contact with the avant-gardes of Cubism and Futurism, where he was able to closely admire the works of Francisco Goya, Honoré Daumier and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It was in these years that his style underwent a process of progressive simplification of forms, under the influence of expressionism, cubism and futurism, widespread among the young artists of the time. In 1914 Grosz joined the German army, but was soon discharged for health reasons; However, it seems that the real reason for his discharge was a psychological shock for which he was admitted to a military hospital. Returning to painting, between 1915 and 1917 the graphic reduction of the sign became radicalized to express the moral collapse following the Prussian defeat: on Grosz based the production of the following years on this style, characterized by his adhesion to the Berlin Dada movement and by revolutionary political positions.