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Adolf Hitler: When Monster Tried (and Failed) to Be an Artist

From a young age, Hitler understood that he aspired to be an artist while growing up in Linz, Austria. His devoted mother even gave him a lot of support in his endeavours. But most parents do not want their children to live the clichéd life of an artist, particularly that of an ill-tempered, strict civil servant like Adolf Hitler’s father, Alois Hitler. 

Alois likely felt some of the same way. He ignored his son’s artistic aspirations and beat him up a lot. He enrolled Adolf in a technical school, hoping to set him on a more steady path.

Anyway, entering politics, Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, was known to have enjoyed painting. But it’s crucial to approach this portion of his life knowing the background of history and the horrors that Hitler and the Nazi state inflicted during World War II, including the Holocaust.

Hitler’s father, Alois Schicklgrube and his mother, Klara Hitler / née Pölzl. Image courtesy of starschanges.com.

Hitler started pursuing art when he was young and was turned down twice for admission to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. He painted mainly landscapes and architectural images, and his style was often classic and conservative.  

It’s crucial to remember that talking about Hitler’s artwork shouldn’t be interpreted as supporting or elevating his deeds or ideologies. Hitler is primarily remembered for the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of millions of people in addition to six million Jews, and for the great suffering that followed World War II.

In historical conversations, Hitler’s artistic endeavours are occasionally brought up, but they are always eclipsed by the scope of the crimes committed by the Nazi government. It is imperative to uphold an outlook that places Hitler’s historical significance above any consideration of his creative endeavours. 

The art of Adolf Hitler: drawing from Adolf Hitler’s sketchbook, 1906. Image courtesy of Laski Diffusion, Getty Images.

Adolf eventually started to stabilise in 1909. He had some success selling tourists and frame merchants his little oil and watercolour paintings of Vienna’s cityscapes and landmarks. Strangely, he did not create the original unique content for these paintings he stole from postcards. Thanks to the money he made from his sales, he could exchange his place at the homeless shelter for a room in a men’s home.

Is Hitler a failed Artist?

Some historians argue that Hitler’s rejection of the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, where he applied twice, was a significant setback. His traditional painting style concentrated on depictions of buildings and landscapes. Hitler had some creative goals, but his paintings were regarded mainly as unimpressive, and he never became well-known as a professional artist.

Any conversation about Hitler’s artworks must be sensitive and well-grounded in the historical background. Even if some of Hitler’s paintings exist, their ownership and exhibition can still be contentious and must be widely seen. When determining whether to exhibit or preserve Hitler’s artworks, museums and other organisations frequently have to weigh ethical concerns.

The art of Adolf Hitler: watercolor by Adolf Hitler depicting a courtyard at an old residence in Munich. Image courtesy of Keystone France, Getty Images.

It is imperative to remember the historical background and the great deal of misery that Hitler’s acts created. The seriousness of the horrors and any consideration of his artistic endeavours should not overshadow the Nazi dictatorship committed. In reality, as long as the artwork does not feature Nazi emblems, it is permissible to sell pieces signed by the notorious dictator in Germany. 

When they go up for sale, there’s no doubt that they will cause a commotion. In a 2015 Nuremberg auction, fourteen Hitler pieces brought $450,000. The auction company justified its choice by citing the pieces’ historical significance, even though many disagree with selling objects intimately associated with a sinister, upsetting historical era or person.