This is the artistic calm before the universal storm that the artist later created
All of the above paintings were done by a young Adolph Hitler.
He was an artist and a dreamer long before he became a maniacal dictator. He created nearly 3,000 known works of art, including drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings.
He was largely self-taught and his lack of professional training is the reason his efforts didn't impress his artistic superiors. His two attempts to enroll as a student in the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts were rejected - in 1907 and 1908. He was coldly deemed to have "unfitness for painting."
Another strike against him was that - at that time - cubism, surrealism, and fauvism were in vogue. Hitler considered himself to be an artist in the Academic tradition and his artistic style was viewed as drab and old-fashioned.
During his lean years, Hitler earned a meager living by selling his artwork on the streets of Vienna. One can't help wondering how history might have changed if Hitler would have been accepted at the Art Academy.
My personal opinion?
When I look at Hitler's paintings, I view them solely for artistic value - without having any prejudices about the monster that the artist later became. I like his work.
He wasn't a sublime artistic genius, but I think he had extraordinary raw talent that could have been nourished and developed into something great.
In truth:
the arrogant, pompous officials at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts unduly gave Hitler the shaft.
Note -
In case anyone is interested - which I seriously doubt (*sarcastic smile*) - I've posted more of Hitler's paintings on my other blog. This link should get you there.
Fuhrer With a Palette
