1893 – 1959

GERMAN-AMERICAN

DADAISM / NEW OBJECTIVITY

George Grosz was a German painter and caricaturist known for his biting satirical style and uncompromising critique of modern society. Grosz studied at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts and later in Berlin, where his experiences during World War I deeply shaped his artistic vision and political outlook. He developed a distinctive approach to painting and drawing that combined exaggerated forms, sharp line, and grotesque distortion to expose the corruption, violence, and moral decay of Weimar Germany. His subjects ranged from caricatures of politicians and military figures to scenes of urban life filled with vice, chaos, and social inequality. Deeply influenced by Expressionism, Dada, and the work of artists such as Otto Dix, Grosz's work captured a harsh, confrontational realism that set him apart from his contemporaries. Though he faced political persecution and censorship for his outspoken views, his art later became highly influential, particularly for its powerful social criticism and enduring impact on modern political art.