GEORGE GROSZ

Upon my research regarding Raoul Hausmann for my artist presentation, I re-discovered the image "Republican Automatons" (1920), by Hausmann's contemporary George Grosz. Grosz was another founding member of the Berlin Dada, and interestingly, his name appeared stamped on the body of the central figure in Hausmann's "The Art Critic". Grosz employs the tools of caricature and satire within his works, targetting mainly industrialist, military officers and clergymen. The artist was an uncomprimising opponent of miliarism and National Socialism, and became one of the first German artists to attack Adolf Hitler within his works. Not surprisingly, Grosz emigrated to the United States of America in 1932, becoming a citizen in 1938.

This painting depicts Grosz's view of modern man as a machine, most notably reflected by the faceless figures, missing limbs and attributes which identify them as human, waving the German flag with devotion regardless.