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| The Reichstag after the fire |
Johannes Hänsch
(Berlin 1875-1945) painted almost exclusively landscapes, in
an impressionistic style. While pleasant, I don’t think them
especially remarkable. I know very little about him. He wasn’t
politically engaged and doesn’t appear to have belonged to any
artistic group.
The reason I still
make a post about him is his enigmatic 1933 painting of the Reichstag
after the fire which destroyed it in March of that year, and which
marked the beginning of the Nazi dictatorship. Hitler had been in
power since January 31st, but it was the fire – which he blamed on
the Communists – that provided him the excuse for exception laws.
What a contrast between this painting and his usual peaceful, idyllic landscapes!
What is the story
behind this painting ? How did he get access to the building ?
Was it commissioned by the authorities ? Anyone knows ?
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