The Turbulent Tale of Otto Mueller's "Two Female Nudes" Comics Journey
A picture narrates its captivating journey.
Get ready to dive into the captivating narrative that Portuguese cartoonist Luz has woven around a painting: "Two female nudes," by Otto Mueller. In his graphic expression, Luz unfolds the tale of this controversial piece, tackling themes of Nazi looted art, antisemitism, and moral corruption.
"The unfortunate similarities to our present predicament are all too apparent," Luz admits.
Luz, whose true name is Rénald Luzier, took it upon himself to tell the story of this painting as a comic. Originally displayed in France, the comic adaptation is now accessible in German, too. On this occasion, Luz ventured to the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, where the artwork holds its current position.
Created around 1919 in Berlin, the painting was exhibited in the infamous Munich "Degenerate Art" exhibition in 1937. It was during a visit to this museum that Luz found a striking connection with his past, as he was once a permanent contributor for the French satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" for 23 years. He narrowly escaped the Islamist attack on the editorial office on January 7, 2015 due to an oversleeping birthday.
The painting's selection for the comic, Luz explains, was intuitive and inspired by his love for German Expressionist painters. He was intrigued by the double portrait, which leaves plenty of space for personal interpretations and feelings for all viewers.
The Seized Masterpiece
The painting breeds its own extraordinary history, states Luz. Before seeing the original in Cologne for the first time, Luz delved deep into its history. That emotional encounter, he recalls, left him standing in front of the painting for three-quarters of an hour, and he returned to it during his recent visit.
Purchased by Jewish collector Ismar Littmann from Breslau in the early 1900s, the painting was seized by the Gestapo in 1935, classifying it as a "culturally Bolshevik representation of pornographic character." In 1937, the artwork was showcased in the Munich exhibition, famous for its controversy.
Over time, the painting found itself in the Museum Ludwig through various collectors. In 1999, the city council discovered that it was looted art. The decision was made to return it to the daughter of Ismar Littmann, Ruth Haller, to preserve it in the museum.
As with Luz, Haller cherished the painting as a child, spending three-quarters of an hour gazing at it on her own – just as Luz did.
"I wanted to reveal the idea that historical events have the power to toss us around, much like any other object, often just as misunderstood as a work of art," Luz says.
Initially, Luz designed the comic as a historical book. However, he deemed it more current and relevant than initially intended, as it features a collector, art dealers, and an emerging extremist right in Europe – circumstances that are sadly far too familiar today.
- Luz, inspired by his love for German Expressionist painters, selected "Two female nudes," by Otto Mueller for his comic adaptation.
- The painting, originally displaying in France, was purchased by Jewish collector Ismar Littmann from Breslau in the early 1900s, but was seized by the Gestapo in 1935, and later exhibited in the infamous Munich "Degenerate Art" exhibition in 1937.
- During a visit to the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, where the painting holds its current position, Luz found a striking connection with his past, as he was once a permanent contributor for the French satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo."
- In 1999, after being discovered as looted art, the city council decided to return "Two female nudes" to Ruth Haller, the daughter of Ismar Littmann, to preserve it in the museum, where she had cherished it as a child, spending three-quarters of an hour gazing at it on her own.
