Self Portrait with Towel | Felix Nussbaum | 1936 Vanitas the west wind

the west wind

is a famous etching that powerfully illustrates the chaos and horror that ensue when reason is abandoned

Martin portrays the tumultuous scene of destruction and chaos as the mighty city succumbs to its fate

luminous light

where the dramatic contrast between light and dark enhances the reflection and the emotional depth of the scene

Self Portrait with Towel | Felix Nussbaum | 1936 Vanitas the west windAbout the artwork: Felix Nussbaum (19041944) was a German Jewish painter whose work vividly captures the fear, alienation, and anguish of living under Nazi persecution. His early artistic style, influenced by the Neue Sachlichkeit movement, shifted dramatically as the political landscape in Germany worsened. Forced into exile after Hitler's rise to power, Nussbaum's later works reflect his personal torment, particularly through self portraits that