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Artwork Info: Himmel

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Himmel

Marsden Hartley’s Himmel appears like a display of fireworks translated into paint on canvas and across the frame. The composition’s overlapping, abstract, colorful shapes are rooted in French Cubism’s motifs and palette. The concentric discs floating across the painting reveal Hartley’s knowledge of American Indian design. They also may relate to cockades that decorated the German military uniforms that Hartley saw while living in Berlin at the onset of World War I. The German words for heaven (Himmel) and hell (Hölle) frame two conical shapes that resemble Zuckertuete, colorful bags of candy given to German schoolchildren. Combining childhood themes with military references, Hartley suggests that war is a kind of game that may end in salvation or damnation.

By the ArtsDot.com Editorial Team

Marsden Hartley (1877 – 1943)

Discover Marsden Hartley's powerful American Modernist paintings! Explore his spiritual landscapes, bold portraits & unique blend of abstraction – a pivotal figure in 20th-century art.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, United States of America)

Explore art from around the world at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art! Discover an encyclopedic collection, stunning architecture & free admission in Kansas City.