Georg Baselitz b. 1938

Georg Baselitz is known for his raw, expressive style and his role in post-war European art. A central figure in Neo-Expressionism, Baselitz's work is marked by bold brushwork, distorted figures, and provocative imagery that challenges traditional aesthetic norms.

Growing up in East Germany after World War II, Baselitz witnessed the cultural and political upheavals that deeply influenced his art. He moved to West Berlin in 1958 to study painting, where he rejected the dominant abstraction of the time in favor of figurative work infused with psychological and historical tension.

In 1969, Baselitz began inverting his subjects — turning figures and landscapes upside down — a radical gesture that became his signature. This approach distanced the viewer from narrative content and emphasized formal elements like color, structure, and composition.

Baselitz's work often grapples with German identity, history, and memory, confronting themes of war, nationalism, and personal trauma. His paintings, woodcuts, and monumental sculptures are characterized by their raw energy, primal imagery, and physicality.