Adolph the Artist

 

"That's exactly why we want to produce this play - to show the world the true Hitler, the Hitler you knew, the Hitler you loved, the Hitler with a song in his heart."

- Max Bialystock, The Producers

 

This week's column is about art and politics. Chances are, the only thing it will accomplish is to prove that artists shouldn't try to write about politics, but hey - it's my column and I can make a fool of myself if I want to.

Most people are aware of the vast, systematic looting of art that was carried out under Adolph Hitler's orders during WWII. As the German army advanced across Europe, elite forces were at work confiscating art by the truckload from museums and private collections in the conquered nations. The art was transported back to Germany and stored under almost ideal museum conditions in salt mines deep beneath the earth.

While there have been many instances in the past where the art of a people was destroyed in the course of conquest because it represented their political or religious culture, this was one of the rare times in history that such an organized looting of art was undertaken for the sole purpose of preserving it. Why do you suppose that a man intent on conquering the world focussed so much time and effort on the art collections of the people he conquered? And why was he so careful with it? It's pretty obvious he wasn't in it for the money. I believe it was because he was an artist himself - or, at least, he fancied himself an artist. Adolph Hitler painted fairly competent landscapes; the pleasant, Sunday Painter-ish sort of scenes that hang in community art exhibits all over the world. Unfortunately, while Adolph's work was competent enough, it wasn't art enough, and he failed to garner the recognition that would have established him as a serious painter.

And so the failed artist turned to politics. Imagine the young Adolph brooding over a bottle of Schnapps in his dingy quarters..."Vell, if dose shtupid art critics don't appreciate mine vork, I'll show dem. I'll...I'll...I'll conquer de vorld! Ja, dat's it! I vill rule de vorld, den all de art vill be mine, all mine! Hahahahahaaaaa...

Ok, you say, so what's the point? Just this: If Adolph Hitler had succeeded as an artist - if he had been just a little more talented, if he had gotten the recognition he wanted so desperately and had become a respected painter, he would never have turned to politics. His need for recognition would have been satisfied and he would have been far too involved in his work to bother. Instead, he recieved neither recognition nor financial reward and the rest is a dark chapter in history.

See what happens when you don't support the arts? Who knows if there is a frustrated artist somewhere in world with the potential to become another Hitler? Surely it is in the best interest of mankind to encourage our artists, to give them praise and recognition, to buy their works. Give generously to your local arts institutions. Pressure your representatives to increase federal funding for the arts. The future is in your hands. Remember...no successful artist has ever tried to conquer the world.