George Gross (Grosz)

Grosc, Georg (Grosz), (present. name and Pham. Georg Ehrenfried, Ehrenfried) (1893-1959), German graphic artist and painter. Born July 26, 1893 in Berlin. He studied at the Art Academy in Dresden (1909-11) and art-industrial school in Berlin (1911-13). After the 1-st world war, permeated with revolutionary ideas that are widely distributed among the German artists who joined in 1918 the Communist Party of Germany. In 1924 it became the organizer of the "Red Group" of artists, and since 1928 member of the Association of the revolutionary artists of Germany. For some time belonged to the Dada and Expressionism, wrote in the spirit of "new real" ostropsihologicheskie portraits. His favorite topic of creativity are satirical portraits of the Prussian Junkers, big tycoons, generals. Widely known graphic cycles Gross: "face of the ruling class" (1921), . "Behold the Man" (1922), . "Payment to be!" (1922-23), . "The new face of the ruling class" (1930), . ostrogrotesknaya style which was inspired by a naive street pattern,
. Everyone's attention to his work attracted the work of "Ecce Homo", where the crucified Christ is depicted wearing a gas mask and army boots - bright and tragic anti-militarist manifesto that led to accusations of blasphemy author.

Anticipating the attack of Nazi dictatorship in Germany, in 1932 he emigrated to the U.S. Gross. Most of his works have been exhibited in Germany, . except for a few, . presented at the famous exhibition "degenerate art", . the catalog is the work of Gross and Otto Dix were described as "depicting the German soldiers as idiots, . sexual degenerates, and drunks ",
. Until 1959 Gross lived in the U.S., moving away from political activities, but also creating a number of acute socio-critical pictures ( "Mir", 1946). By the end of his life he wrote in his autobiography "small" yes "and big" no "(New York, 1946):" We were like a boat at sea with the wind lifted the white, red and black sails. Some bore the emblem of the United Front and others - communism, Nazism or "Steel Helmet". But, observed from a distance, all these flags look alike.

George Gross died in West Berlin on July 7, 1959.