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The Large Dance of Death by Hans Friedrich Grohs
This series of seven woodcuts hanging on the opposite wall stands in the tradition of the medieval so called Dance of Death. It reminded people of the fragility and transcience of life. Before death all humans are equal disrespectful of social standing, age, wealth, whether pious or not. Death can come at any time.
Hans Friedrich Grohs (1892-1981), a German expressionist artist, was deeply affected by his experiences of World War I, which left Europe devastated and many, millions dead. Just after the war he created these powerful images, in which the figure of death overcomes indiscriminately soldiers and civilians, men, women, and children alike. Grohs reminds us of the horrors of World War I and to never again allow such suffering and destruction.
While Grohs' images on the opposite wall hark back to the horrors of the war as experienced by millions in Europe, propaganda painted a more heroic picture. The little known French artist Bernard Naudin created an official poster calling people to aid in the war effort. At the same time, the popular American magazine Collier's published a photo story showing soldiers marching, resting, gathering, and posing for pictures - but does not show human suffering. |