Hintergrund: 17 Zeichnungen von George Grosz zur Aufführung des „Schwejk“ in der Piscator-bühne (Background: 17 Drawings by George Grosz for the Opening of "Schwejk" in the Piscator Theater)

Creator

• George Grosz
• Malik-Verlag

Creator Biography

George Grosz, German, 1893–1959 (artist).

Malik-Verlag, German, active Berlin, 1916–1947 (publisher).

Preview

Creation Date

1928

Geography

Germany

Culture

German

Medium

Print

Dimensions

7 1/16 × 10 9/16 × 9/16 in. (18 × 26.8 × 1.5 cm)

Credit Line

Purchase by the Department of Art History, 2025

Accession Number

2026.1

Description

This portfolio of seventeen prints was published for the opening of the Good Soldier Schwejkat in November 1928. The play was adapted by Erwin Piscator from a novel by Czech writer Jaroslav Hašek and performed at Berlin's Theatre am Nollendorfplatz. The novel, play, and George Grosz's prints all present an anti-war satirization based on the events of World War I. Grosz had served for part of the war, but the remainder of it he spent in Berlin making violently anti-war drawings that led to his prosecution for insulting the army and blasphemy. Within this portfolio, his depiction of crucified Christ wearing a gas mask (2026.1.10) led to a charge of blasphemy.