Hermann Gross: Art and Soul

Hermann Gross (1904-88) would probably be one of the most recognized German Expressionist painters today if it were not for one detail: in 1963, to the bewilderment of his friends, he left the artistic hubs of Paris and Berlin and became an artist-in-residence at a Camphill community in Aberdeen, in the north of Scotland. This book should bring long-overdue recognition to this most talented of artists. It traces Gross' early life and career as he learned the technical skills of a sculptor, printer, silversmith, and stained-glass maker under some of the most eminent masters in Europe, including Haustein, Raemisch and Wlerick and, in Paris, Picasso. His work for the Nazi propaganda machine during the war is examined, along with his time in America. It was during his many years at Camphill, however, that Gross' art matured, and this book includes fifteen color plates of his most important work. Throughout, he remained true to the German Expressionist roots of communicating a compelling message relevant to contemporary society.