Head

The head is that of the lyric poet Stefan George (1868-1933), who refused to affiliate with the Nazis but was lionized by them nevertheless. George's poetry draws on archaic forms of the German language, and his later work condemns what he perceived to be the evils of modern life. George, who became a cult figure, exemplifies Kiefer's interest in pointing out the complexities of German cultural heritage. It appears that Kiefer's source for this image is a photograph of George at about age sixty taken circa 1928 by Theodor Hilsdorf.

Stefan!
1974. Watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and ballpoint pen on paper
9 3/8 x 12 5/8 in. (23.8 x 32.1 cm)
Denise and Andrew Saul Fund, 1995
1995.14.9

Stefan George, ca. 1928.
Photograph by Theodore Hilsdorf

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