The artwork titled “Ways of Worldly Wisdom. The Battle of Hermann” was created by Anselm Kiefer in 1980. As a notable piece within the New European Painting movement, this figurative artwork exemplifies Kiefer’s distinctive approach and thematic focus.
The artwork is characterized by its dense and layered composition, featuring numerous faces meticulously rendered in a monochromatic palette of black, white, and shades of gray. The visages are interwoven with a network of dark, chaotic lines that appear almost organic, resembling branches or tendrils. Central to the piece is a conflagration, evoking a sense of both destruction and illumination. The text inscribed at the bottom, “Wege der Weltweisheit. Die Hermannschlacht” (translated to “Ways of Worldly Wisdom. The Battle of Hermann”), grounds the piece within a historical narrative. The overall tone is somber and contemplative, echoing themes of memory, history, and the human condition. The combination of figuration and abstraction in the artwork navigates the viewer through a complex visual and emotional landscape, indicative of Kiefer’s profound engagement with cultural and historical motifs.
