Hitler’s ‘Piece Of Crap’ Painting On Display In Italy
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
ROME (JTA) – A “piece of crap” painting by Adolf Hitler is on display in a recently opened exhibition in northern Italy on the theme of madness.
The small, untitled oil painting, on loan from a private German collector and never before exhibited, shows a seated man and a standing man at the front of a long, shadowy corridor. Hitler’s signature is in the lower right corner.
Speaking ahead of the exhibit’s opening earlier this month, politician and art historian Vittorio Sgarbi, who curated the show, described the painting artistically as a “piece of crap; the painting of a desperate man.” He added, “it could have been done by Kafka; it says a lot about his psyche: here you don’t see grandeur, you see misery. It’s not the work of a dictator but that of a wretch.”
The Hitler painting is one of more than 200 artworks, objects, installations, photographs, and multimedia pieces in the exhibit, “Museum of Madness: from Goya to Bacon,” which explores the links between art and mental illness, instability, and madness. It is included in the exhibit’s section on “political madness.”
The exhibit, which runs until November 16, is housed at the State Museum in Salo’, a town on Lake Garda that was closely associated with Italy’s World War II fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. From 1943-45 Salo’ was the headquarters of Mussolini’s Nazi-backed puppet state, the Italian Social Republic, or (RSI, which capitulated after partisans captured and executed Mussolini and other RSI officials as they attempted to flee.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
