Adolf Hitler

Yes, this is an odd choice for me to make, unless you consider that this man was a watercolorist throughout his life.  He certainly was not one of the better painters of the early 20^th century, nor was he the worst.  And more than once I have wondered, ‘Where was his madness expressed in his paintings?’

Paula , Hitler’s sister said, "His rapid rise in the world worried me.  I must honestly confess that I would have preferred it if he had followed his original ambition and become an architect.  It would have saved the world a lot of worries ."

Hitler usually painted in a traditional style: "His typical landscapes, city scenes and still lifes all clearly indicate how completely he was captivated by conventional forms of expression."  And, "His intense fascination with architecture was reflected in his numerous drawings of houses, churches, public buildings and city scenes."

Hitler made the resolution to become a professional painter early in life.  However, when he was 11 years old his father suggested an official career.  But Hitler did not want to be a servant of the monarchy.  One year later - at 12 years old - Adolf made his wish to be a painter to his father.  This was not acceptable as the father doubted of his son's sanity.

With this desire, it's hard to understand why Hitler did not want to pass the academy tests in Vienna.  Was Hitler afraid of failure and/or punishment? 

We know his alcoholic father beat him due to poor school grades.  Was this the creation in young Adolf - to fear failure his whole life?  

In 1907, Hitler applied to the art academy as an art student.  He did not pass the drawing exam and so was not admitted.  Speaking with the academy's director, he was told he was "not qualified to be a painter".  But, the director did suggest young Hitler study to be an architect.  However, he did not take the final exams to become one and left school.

Hitler’s watercolors were heavily influenced by Rudolf von Alt, a prominent watercolorist of the late 19th century.  He adopted Alt's preference for realistic, detailed scenes done in delicate tones, and precisely copied Alt's typically cloudy skies.

By Hitler's own accounting, he painted between one and three watercolors a day during his Vienna years.  If one assumes he painted only one painting a day, and only three days a week, then the minimum number he would have painted would be six hundred, which is remarkably close to Hitler's own recollection of "over a thousand."

Far from being ashamed of his painting, he was fond of giving them as gifts to people he thought appreciated his work.  Apparently in his more generous moods, Hitler would present his favorites with paintings from among those he kept for himself.  Göring, Himmler, and even Mussolini were favored in this way.

Was there madness to be found in his work?  Not that I can find.  His work is pleasant and just like that produced by hundreds of artists of his day.  I guess he was slightly successful in his day as he was even copied before his rise to power on the world scene.  I have managed to collect 114 copies of his work, because I wanted to know and study.  And have nothing to share other than what I have just said.  Even his later paintings tells us nothing of the man.

Of course, we know him best as the architect of war, genocide and a political struggle which continues to this day….