Portrait of Otto Dix

Your Guide to the 100 Most Famous Otto Dix Paintings

Updated oktober 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 373 works by Otto Dix in our catalogue

In short

Otto Dix's best-known piece is Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden (1926). You'll find it at the Centre Pompidou in Pariz. Next on the list are Fenišcija and The Skat Players (1920). We have 373 works by Otto Dix in our catalogue; this guide picks out the 100 best known, with the year, the museum and the story of each piece.

1891 – 1969, Untermhaus Neue sachlichkeit Most works: Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke

The 10 Otto Dix paintings to know first

1
Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden (1926) by Otto Dix

Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden

1926 · Olje na leseni podlagi · Centre Pompidou, Pariz

Otto Dix's “Portrait of the Journalist Sylvia von Harden” stands as an arresting emblem of the Neue Sachlichkeit movement, encapsulating the anxieties and contradictions inherent in Germany’s turbulent Weimar Republic. Completed in 1926, this painting transcends mere visual representation; it delves into psychological depth and social commentary with a disconcerting honesty that continues to captivate audiences today.

2
Fenišcija by Otto Dix

Fenišcija

Olje na platnu

Močna upodobitev vojne uničitve To pretresljivo umetniško del zajema surov kaos in globoko obupanje postapokaliptične pokrajine, ki prikličeta brutalne realnosti vojne in človeškega trpljenja. Scena je razlegena in nemirna, polna uničenih struktur, padlih vojakov in skeletnih ostankov, razpršenih po zapuščeni državi. Obrazila so deformirana in v okoliščenem stanju, kar uteleja čustveno težo konflikta in izgube. Skozi svojo prepričljivo tematiko del vabi gledalce k razmišljanju o uničujočih posledicah nasilja ter o…

3
The Skat Players (1920) by Otto Dix

The Skat Players

1920 · Acrylic On Canvas

Otto Dix's "The Skat Players," created in 1920, is a profoundly unsettling and powerful artwork that serves as a stark commentary on the aftermath of World War I. This oil-on-canvas painting (87 x 110 cm) embodies the Dadaist style, capturing the despair, social upheaval, and struggle for survival prevalent in post-war Germany.

4
Trench Warfare by Otto Dix

Trench Warfare

Oil

is an oil painting by Otto Dix. The canvas captures the heavy, suffocating darkness of a battlefield, focusing on the visceral reality of war and its devastating consequences. A lone soldier emerges from a turbulent background of smoke and fire, his form highlighted by dramatic light against the surrounding gloom. The scene is a landscape of grit and unrest.

5
Nelly among Flowers by Otto Dix

Nelly among Flowers

Acrylic On Canvas · Museum Folkwang, Essen

Otto Dix’s Tender Reverie: Nelly Among Flowers The painting “Nelly Among Flowers” by Otto Dix stands as an arresting paradox—a glimpse into the artist's deeply personal world juxtaposed against the stark, uncompromising aesthetic of Neue Sachlichkeit. Created in 1924, shortly after Dix’s daughter Nelly was born, it represents a significant departure from his characteristic depictions of war and societal critique, offering instead a serene tableau bathed in soft light and…

6
Metropolis by Otto Dix

Metropolis

Oil On Panel

The triptych Metropolis by the German artist Otto Dix captures the fractured pulse of the Weimar Republic. Executed between 1927 and 1928, the work presents three nighttime city scenes. It focuses on the nightlife of a German big city during the golden twenties. The panels act as windows into a world of decadence, femininity, and sexuality. This modern city is a place of sharp contrasts and restless energy.

7
The Seven Cardinal Sins by Otto Dix

The Seven Cardinal Sins

Oil

Introduction to the Artist and Painting Title Otto Dix, a prominent German artist known for his powerful and thought-provoking works, created "The Seven Cardinal Sins" in 1933. This captivating painting is an exceptional example of the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement, which emerged in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s as a response to the country's turbulent socio-political climate. Symbolism and Meaning In "The Seven Cardinal Sins," Dix masterfully employs…

8
Newborn Baby on Hands by Otto Dix

Newborn Baby on Hands

In this quiet composition titled Newborn Baby on Hands, the artist Otto Dix turns his gaze toward a moment of profound intimacy. The work presents a departure from the more turbulent social critiques often associated with his name, focusing instead on the delicate connection between a mother and her newborn child. It is a study of tenderness, captured through the simple, protective presence of a mother's hands.

9
Pragerstrasse (1920) by Otto Dix

Pragerstrasse

1920 · Oil On Canvas

Executed in July 1920, Pragerstrasse is an oil and collage on canvas that captures a scene on Prager Straße in Dresden, Germany, shortly after the First World War. The composition presents a fragmented view of urban life, featuring several distinct figures. In the foreground, a character from the middle or upper class is depicted without legs, moving with the assistance of a skateboard and canes; this figure wears a bowler…

10
To Beauty (1922) by Otto Dix

To Beauty

1922 · Oil On Canvas

Otto Dix's "To Beauty," painted in 1922, stands as a stark and unsettling critique of the moral decay and superficiality that permeated post-World War I Germany. Housed within the Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal, Germany, this oil on canvas masterpiece is more than just a painting; it's a historical document capturing an era defined by disillusionment and decadence through the lens of Expressionism.

Numbers 11 to 100: more Otto Dix paintings

11War (1932) by Otto DixWar1932 12Portrait of Dr Heinrich Stadelmann (1922) by Otto DixPortrait of Dr Heinrich Stadelmann1922 13Plague German (1919) by Otto DixPlague German1919 14Prager Straße (Prague Street) by Otto DixPrager Straße (Prague Street) 15Portrait of the Lawyer Hugo Simons 1 by Otto DixPortrait of the Lawyer Hugo Simons 1 16Suleika, the Tatooed Wonder by Otto DixSuleika, the Tatooed Wonder 17Sunrise by Otto DixSunrise 18Shock Troops Advance under Gas (1924) by Otto DixShock Troops Advance under Gas1924 · MoMA - Muzej moderne umetnosti 19Triptychon Der Krieg (War Triptych) by Otto DixTriptychon Der Krieg (War Triptych) 20Randegg in the snow with ravens by Otto DixRandegg in the snow with ravens 21How I Looked As A Soldier by Otto DixHow I Looked As A Soldier 22Portrait of Mrs. Martha Dix by Otto DixPortrait of Mrs. Martha DixMuseum Folkwang 23Mother with Child (1921) by Otto DixMother with Child1921 24Sappenkopf (1920) by Otto DixSappenkopf1920 · Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke 25Fritz Perls by Otto DixFritz Perls 26prisoners of war by Otto Dixprisoners of war 27Portrait of Dr. Heinrich Stadelmann by Otto DixPortrait of Dr. Heinrich Stadelmann 28Self-Portrait as a Soldier by Otto DixSelf-Portrait as a Soldier 29Portrait of Paul F. Schmidt (1921) by Otto DixPortrait of Paul F. Schmidt1921 30Nelly with Toy by Otto DixNelly with Toy 31War cripples by Otto DixWar cripples 32Still Life with Widow's Veil (1925) by Otto DixStill Life with Widow's Veil1925 33Dream of the sadist by Otto DixDream of the sadist 34The Dancer Anita Berber by Otto DixThe Dancer Anita Berber 35Portrait of Heinrich George by Otto DixPortrait of Heinrich George 36Half-Nude by Otto DixHalf-Nude 37House by the Stream (1912) by Otto DixHouse by the Stream1912 38The Declaration of War (1914) by Otto DixThe Declaration of War1914 39Portrait of the Poet Alfred Günther (1919) by Otto DixPortrait of the Poet Alfred Günther1919 · Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke 40Female Worker in Sunday Dress (1920) by Otto DixFemale Worker in Sunday Dress1920 41Fit for service (1919) by Otto DixFit for service1919 42Portrait of the Photographer Hugo Erfurth (1925) by Otto DixPortrait of the Photographer Hugo Erfurth1925 · Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke 43The Widow (1925) by Otto DixThe Widow1925 44Woman with Infant (1924) by Otto DixWoman with Infant1924 45Self-Portrait with Wife (1923) by Otto DixSelf-Portrait with Wife1923 46Family of the Painter Adalbert Trillhaase (1923) by Otto DixFamily of the Painter Adalbert Trillhaase1923 47Old Lovers (1923) by Otto DixOld Lovers1923 48Son of the Artist (1928) by Otto DixSon of the Artist1928 · Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke 49Portrait of the Dancer Marianne Vogelsang (1931) by Otto DixPortrait of the Dancer Marianne Vogelsang1931 50untitled (1685) by Otto Dixuntitled (1685) 51The Resurrection by Otto DixThe Resurrection 52untitled (4922) by Otto Dixuntitled (4922) 53war triptych (1932) by Otto Dixwar triptych1932 54Der Triumph des Todes, Triumph of death by Otto DixDer Triumph des Todes, Triumph of death 55Uneven couple by Otto DixUneven couple 56Little Girl by Otto DixLittle Girl 57Family Portrait by Otto DixFamily Portrait 58St. Christopher IV by Otto DixSt. Christopher IV 59Self-Portrait by Otto DixSelf-Portrait 60untitled (238) by Otto Dixuntitled (238) 61Parents of the Artist by Otto DixParents of the Artist 62Apotheosis by Otto DixApotheosis 63Mediterranean Sailor by Otto DixMediterranean Sailor 64Flare illuminates the farm at Monacu by Otto DixFlare illuminates the farm at Monacu 65Crater field near Dontrien lit up by flares by Otto DixCrater field near Dontrien lit up by flares 66Dance of death 1917 - (Dead Man's Hill) by Otto DixDance of death 1917 - (Dead Man's Hill) 67untitled (7119) by Otto Dixuntitled (7119) 68Annunciation by Otto DixAnnunciation 69Mother and Child (Irmgard Bahle) by Otto DixMother and Child (Irmgard Bahle) 70The God of confectioners by Otto DixThe God of confectioners 71Skull by Otto DixSkull 72The Businessman Max Roesberg, Dresden by Otto DixThe Businessman Max Roesberg, Dresden 73Dr. Mayer-Hermann by Otto DixDr. Mayer-Hermann 74Man and Woman (Nocturnal scene) by Otto DixMan and Woman (Nocturnal scene) 75Family of the painter Adalbert Trillhaase by Otto DixFamily of the painter Adalbert Trillhaase 76The War Cripples by Otto DixThe War Cripples 77Laughing Girl by Otto DixLaughing Girl 78Wounded by Otto DixWounded 79Self Portrait by Otto DixSelf Portrait 80Forenoon by Otto DixForenoon 81This is Ursus Dix by Otto DixThis is Ursus Dix 82Old man by Otto DixOld man 83Girl with sunflower by Otto DixGirl with sunflower 84Old Woman by Otto DixOld Woman 85Trenches by Otto DixTrenches 86Battle weary troops retreating - Battle of the Somme by Otto DixBattle weary troops retreating - Battle of the Somme 87Street Fight by Otto DixStreet Fight 88Stormtroopers go ahead into the gas (Assault under Gas) by Otto DixStormtroopers go ahead into the gas (Assault under Gas) 89untitled (8348) by Otto Dixuntitled (8348) 90untitled (7198) by Otto Dixuntitled (7198) 91shelter by Otto Dixshelter 92Child with Doll by Otto DixChild with Doll 93untitled (3407) by Otto Dixuntitled (3407) 94Gas Victims by Otto DixGas Victims 95untitled (1737) by Otto Dixuntitled (1737) 96Erna I, standing, hand under chin by Otto DixErna I, standing, hand under chin 97Zirkusszene by Otto DixZirkusszene 98Sketch of 'Melancholy' by Otto DixSketch of 'Melancholy' 99Mealtime in the Trenches by Otto DixMealtime in the Trenches 100At the Café by Otto DixAt the Café

What Otto Dix painted most

The four subjects that come up most often in these pieces, each with its best-known example.

Where you can see Otto Dix's paintings

The 4 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Otto Dix Paintings from this list
Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke, MünchenBavarske državne slikopisne zbirke München 4 Sappenkopf, Portrait of the Poet Alfred Günther, Portrait of the Photographer Hugo Erfurth
Museum Folkwang, EssenMuseum Folkwang Essen 2 Nelly among Flowers, Portrait of Mrs. Martha Dix
Centre Pompidou, ParizCentre Pompidou Pariz 1 Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden
MoMA - Muzej moderne umetnosti, New York CityMoMA - Muzej moderne umetnosti New York City 1 Shock Troops Advance under Gas

Decade by decade: the best-known Otto Dix piece of each

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see its standout piece.

Otto Dix: quick answers about the paintings

What is Otto Dix's best-known painting?See the answer

Top of the list is Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden (1926), Centre Pompidou, Pariz. Right behind it: Fenišcija and The Skat Players (1920).

What age was Otto Dix when creating Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden?See the answer

35 years old. Otto Dix was born in 1891, and Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden dates from 1926.

What are Otto Dix's top 10 paintings?See the answer

Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden, Fenišcija, The Skat Players, Trench Warfare, Nelly among Flowers, Metropolis, The Seven Cardinal Sins, Newborn Baby on Hands, Pragerstrasse and To Beauty. You'll find the year and the museum of each in the list above.

How many works by Otto Dix are in your catalogue?See the answer

We have 373 works by Otto Dix in our catalogue, dated 1912 to 1932.

In which museums can you see Otto Dix's famous works?See the answer

You'll find most of them in Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke (München), Museum Folkwang (Essen) and Centre Pompidou (Pariz). The museum list above has the full breakdown.

When did Otto Dix make the most famous pieces?See the answer

In 1920s, more than any other time: 18 of the 100 pieces on this page date from then, Portret žurnalistke Sylvie Von Harden among them.

What are Otto Dix's first and last famous pieces?See the answer

The earliest piece here is House by the Stream (1912); the most recent is War (1932).

Which subjects did Otto Dix paint most often?See the answer

Portraits (8), Wars (7) and German art (6), out of the 100 pieces on this page.

Which medium shows up most in Otto Dix's paintings?See the answer

Oil, used in 4 of the 100 pieces on this page.

What style or movement is Otto Dix known for?See the answer

Neue sachlichkeit and Expressionism, as you can see in the pieces on this page.

Which famous Otto Dix paintings are at the Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke?See the answer

You can see 4 of the pieces on this page at the Bavarske državne slikopisne zbirke, München, including Sappenkopf, Portrait of the Poet Alfred Günther and Portrait of the Photographer Hugo Erfurth.

Otto Dix's story

Z early life, družina in umetniško izobraževanje

Untermhaus, Nemčija, 2. december 1891. Obstoječe okolje, ki je oblikovalo umetnika Otto Dix, je prežeto z nepopustnim industrijskim delom in tihi, poetsko podtonom. Njegov oče, Franz Dix, je delal v železalarni, v okolju, ki ga je definovalo težko trdo delo. Njegova mati, Louise, ki je bila rokizalca, nosi v sebi dediščino pisanja poezije. Ta domača pokrajina ustvarja prvo, subtilno trenje med trdnostjo fizičnega dela in impulzom k ustvarjalnemu izražanju.

Pot do profesionalnega izobraževanja se začne leta 1906. Dix se pridrži pod mentorstvo slikarja Carl Senff, obdobje študija, ki se razprostira vse do leta 1910. Ta oblikovalno izobraževanje ga odmakne iz domačne sfere v tehnicalno disciplino rokodelske umetnosti. Do leta 1910 se preseli v Dresden, kjer se vpiše v Kunstgewerbeschule, institucijo, ki jo danes poznamo kot Dresdansko akademijo likovne umetnosti. Njegov zgodnji fokus ostaja pri uporabni umetnosti in rokodelskem izdelovanju, ne pa pri slikarstvu fine umetnosti, ki bo pozneje prineslo njegovo slavo.

Brutalna realnost Prve svetovne vojne

Avgust 1914. Izbruh Prve svetovne vojne sproživi val patriotičnega navdušenja. Dix se prijavi v nemško vojsko in studio zameni za fronto. Služi kot trdovnik, kjer se sooča z mehansko klanetjem na vseh linijah, tako na Vzhodnem kot na Zunajnem frontu. Vojna je kraj blata, razpada in neprestanega trpljenja. Preživi to klanetje in za svoje služenje končno prejme Železni krig.

Okopi pustijo psihološko rano, ki ne želi zaceliti. Izkušnja mehanske vojne postane osrednja, prestrašujoča prisotnost v njegovi psihi. Priča grozotnemu realizmu boja—ne gre za očiščen heroizem propagande, temveč za vizceralno resnico uničenja. Te grozljive spomine postanejo surov material za njegovo poznejše delo. Po letu 1920 začne to travo izkušnjo prevajati v nepopustljiv, anti-vojni vizualni jezik.

Tehnika in umetniški slog

Otto Dix svoje delo oblikuje skozi prizmo nepopustnih in skoraj brutalno realističnih prikazov. Odklanja mehkite konture romantizma in se namesto tega odloča za stiliziran realizem, ki gledalca neposredno sooči z trdnostjo in nečistočo nemške družbe. Njegova roka se premika z klinčnim natančnostjo, bodisi ko na platno nanaša tehnike glazure ali ko z močjo drsi v metalno plati. Ta tehnična rigoroznost mu omogoča, da dokumentira fizični in psihološki razpad Weimarske ere, ne da bi pri tem uporabil abstrakcijo kot zaščitni ščit.

Medij pogosto diktira intenzivnost sporočila. V grafiki uporablja sofisticirano kombinacijo suhe igle, akvatinte in etsinga, da bi dosegel globoke, tonske senče in ostre, mordozne linije. Te metode mu omogočajo granulozno raven podrobnosti pri prikazih vojne in urbanega življenja. Poleg težkih tekstur grafičnih printov uporablja tudi srebrni pušek na pripravljenem papirju, což je zahtevna tehnika, ki zahteva popolno nadzor in ne pušča prostora za napake. Njegovo del oscilira med široko uporabo barv in natančnim, skoraj kirurškim preciznim finim risanjem.

Ključna dela in remekdelja

Posledice Velike vojne najdemo v najbolj nemirnem odrazu leta 1920 v delu Igrači skat. To platno na platnu zajema bežanjo in družbeno prevratništvo povojenske Nemške skozi dadaistično prizmo. Delo gledalca poprebrno popelje v svet borcev in preživetja. Do leta 1923 se fokus premakne iz družbenih napetosti v visceralno klatišče frontnih linij. Okop povzroči takojšnjo kontroverzo, ko je prvič razstavljen v Kolonji. Grafična podoba konflikta odpravi vsak zunanji občutek junštva in ga nadomesti z råstno resničnostjo bojišča.

Leta 1924 se intensivnost vojne strni v Vojno, serijo 50 klineževnih in akvatintnih etingov. Ti printi ponujajo neusmiljivo pogled na besenost mehanizirane vojne. Preciznost grafične umetnosti se sooči z gledalcem z fizičnimi in psihološkimi ranami obdobja. Ta obdobje neusmiljivega opazovanja se nadaljuje v mestni pokrajini. Portret novinarke Sylvie Von Harden, naslikan leta 1926, zajema specifičen karakter tistega časa. Do leta 1928 se pogled usmerja proti dekadenci mestnega življenja. Metropolis prvič nastopi v Dresdenu in predstavlja ostro obtožbo urbanističnega življenja, polno scen socialne alienation in razuzlane

  • Igrači skat (1920)
  • Okop (1923)
  • Vojna (1924)
  • Portret novinarke Sylvie Von Harden (1926)
  • Metropolis (1928)

Preganjanje in pozni leta

Politično podnebje se leta 1933 drastično spremeni. Njegovo delo postane tarča nacistične nemške umetnostne družbe, ki ga označuje za "dekadentno". Ta oznaka prinese takojšnje posledice: Otto Dix je iz Vržnjave za likovno umetnost v Dresdenu odreden iz svojega profesorskega položaja. Umetnik se umakne političnemu sovražstvu svojega časa in išče mir v majhnem mestu Hemmenhofen ob Bodenskem jezeru. Vendar tudi v tem miru ne izgine napetost; Dix slika religiozne alegorije, ki jih pogosto uporablja kot skrito sredstvo za kritiko režima.

Pritisk se leta 1939 še poveča. Gestapo aretira Dixa zaradi sumov, da bi sodeloval v načrtu za ubistvo Hitlerja. Dve voglia v interrogacijah, preden je prostojen. Senča druge svetovne vojne se širi, Otto Dix pa se v zadnjih mesecih konflikta uvrsti v Volkssturm. Preživi vojni kaos in se v povojni Nemčiji končno sooči z obdobjem ponovnega priznanja. V kulturnem okolju ostaja pomembna figura vse do svoje smrti, ki je nastopila 25. julija 1969 v Singenu, Hohentwiel (DE).

Dediščina in globalni vpliv

Otto Dix ostaja osrednja figura nemške slikarstva 20. stoletja. Njegova prisotnost v stalnih zbirkah prestižnih institucij, kot je Museum of Modern Art v New Yorku, potrjuje njegov trajni pomen. Dix ni le dokumentiral svojega časa; svojo umetnost je uporabil za prisiljeno soočenje z fizičnim in psihološkim ruševjem vojne ter moralnim razpadom Weimarja. Njegove bakropisi, še posebej serija Vojna, so prepoznani kot izjemna dosežka v grafični umetnosti, kjer je z uporabo suhe igle in akvatinte uspešno zajel vizceralno resničnost okop.

Vpliv njegovega dela se širi skozi naslednje generacije umetnikov. Tisti, ki si želijo izzvati družbene norme ali se soočiti z težkimi resnicami, v njegovem nepopustljivem realizmu najdejo svojo predhodnico. Dix se je odmaknil od čustvene abstrakcije ekspresionizma in izbral klinično, pogosto kruto jasnost. Ta pristop je zagotovil, da so trpljenja marginaliziranih in cicatrici konfliktov ostali vidni še dolgo po tem, ko so se politični pejzaži, ki so jih rodili, popolnoma spremenili.

  • Vojna (1924)
  • Metropol (1928)
  • Igrači skat (1920)

Kje si danes lahko ogledate njegova dela

Fizična prisotnost Dixove vizije je razprta po največjih mednarodnih institucijah. V Londonu Britanski muzej čuva celoten nabor tiskov iz njegove serije Vojna. Te etingacije omogočajo neposreden srečanje z grafično intenzivnostjo njegovih vojaških opazovanj. Na drugi strani kanala v Parizu Centre Pompidou hrani iz leta 1926 posnet Portret novinarke Sylvie Von Harden, delo, ki zajema specifično družbeno vzdušje Weimarske ere.

Doseg njegovega umetniškega izločkov sega tudi do Združenih držav Amerike, kjer Muzej sodobne umetnosti v New Yorku čuva Napredovanje šokovih enot pod plinom. To delo prinaša vizceralno napetost frontnih linij v sodobni muzejski prostor. V Nemčiji Museum Folkwang v Essnu hrani Nelly med cvetjem, kar nudi drugačen pogled na njegovo sposobnost obdelave intimnih tematik.

All 373 works by Otto Dix →