http://homepage.mac.com/dmhart/WarArt/Dix/WarTriptychDetail.JPG
Historical Period ~ This painting, by Otto Dix painted in 1929-32, is only part of a whole painting. In the caption underneath the painting in the book, we learn that his reason for painting this disturbing image was because it was what he saw during the war. Everyone around him was dead and nothing looked very pleasant. A nightmare that lives inside his mind for the rest of his life as well for others who escaped this mess. Dix painted this once he returned to Germany and the war was over.
Response to art ~ This work of art was indeed disturbing and must have been horrible to witness as Dix had. It shows different ways that people died during this time of war and how their bodies were treated after their deaths. Many of these humans had bullet, sword, and burn wounds that most likely lead them to a slow, painful death. Blood shed everywhere as it drains out of the corpses from their wounds and even mouths. Two burned victims who could have been burned are placed almost in the center section of the painting. One hangs in the sky off of what seems to be a beam of some type. The other you can only see his hand sticking out of the many corpses almost directly in the middle of the painting. His/her hand is very black as if it was burnt crisped except for his thumb which is almost white minus some of the dirt upon it.
One can tell that war has taken place in this town, but not just because of the way these people died. In the background, you can see broken down homes, buildings and what looks to be a farm which must mean that something horrible took place here. Also, there is a man who stands among the corpses with a hard army helmet on, a gas mask and also some type of wrap to protect his skin perhaps. It might be Otto Dix painting himself in to show that this is what he saw and remembers every night. People he might have known are now dead in front of him. During his time, he was a volunteer for the German Army which is how he could have seen this type of terrifying seen.
