Arno Breker was a German sculptor born in 1900, and his works became most famous during the reign of National Socialism in Germany, as the exact opposite of the then decadence that particularly eroded cultural life.
During his life in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s, Breker was influenced by Jean Cocteau, Jean Renoir, Pablo Picasso and Aristide Maillol, who later described Breker as " Germany's Michelangelo ."
It is no secret that Breker was personal friends with the architect Albert Speer and Adolf Hitler himself, since he himself joined the NSDAP in 1937 and was appointed "official state sculptor" by Hitler. He was given a large estate and studio and 43 assistants. Given his role, he was spared military service.
"Today, humanity is occupied with different materials. Someone takes a piece of railroad track, puts it on the lawn, and it's supposed to be art."
At the Great Art Exhibition of German Art, Breker presented his 42 works. Most of them exuded a strong message that radiated from firm and determined figures in the typical style of the worldview of that time. The proportions of the statues, the great contrast between the dark and light parts and the melodramatic tension of the musculature still attract attention today, but also remind of some works of art from the 16th century.
"If you look in history, you will see that there are no schizophrenic sculptors. We sculptors are too close to the material. We have to deal with stone, with material. Mastering the material is a monumental task, one that challenges me from the moment my day begins."
Almost all of Breker's sculptures survived World War II, but the Allies destroyed nearly 90 percent of his public works after the war. In 1946, Breker was offered compensation by Josef Stalin, but he refused it, saying "One dictatorship is enough for me".
After the war, Breker continued to receive fees for his sculptures, creating a large number of works in his famous classical style, working mainly for wealthy clients.
Arno Breker died in 1991.
(post is archived)