BA7 | Concept and Pre-Production #20

Surrealism Study 3 - Otto Dix

Otto Dix was a German artist, painter and print maker who create brutally vivid and disturbing depictions of post-war Berlin. Whilst not titled a “surreal artist” his work bears strong resemblance to the themes typically associated with surrealism. He was drawn to Expressionism and Dadaism but his inspiration came from trends in Italy and France to illustrate cold, harsh but realistic depictions of the time. 

His work is incredibly shocking with regards to content but Dix managed to create a balance between realism and allegorical within his imagery. His work was ripe with metaphors communicating trends of the time such as injured war veterans and prostitutes symbolising a damaged society in both the physical and moral sense. 

I have picked work I find disturbing and eerie with regards to face value, contents and subject matter. The way Dix creates his work successfully communicates horrific narratives which is something important to me and my environment. 

Image #1 "Totentanz anno 17"

  Totentanz anno 17 (Hohe Toter Mann) [Dance of death 1917 - (Dead Man's Hill)] - Otto Dix

IMAGE SOURCE 

This is “Totentanz anno 17” (Dance of Death) by Otto Dix. It was painted in 1924 and was a part of Dix’s portfolio Der Krieg (“The War”). This portfolio contained brutally realistic, graphic and vivid imagery of World War 1. Dix would fixate on the aftermath in an attempt to capture the dead, dying and shell shocked soldiers, he would also focus on bombed out landscapes and graves. 

The idea behind  this particular image was to horrifically illustrate a formation of fence posts wrapped in barbed wire with impaled bodies strung amongst them with body parts confusing the composition which demonstrates the surreal/expressive nature of Dix’s work.

How this Influences my Environment

How will this painting be a visual inspiration and influence for my project?

• Disturbing imagery and juxtaposition of death and entrapment.
• Using limbs and body parts to communicate the horror.
• Surreal/expressive/abstract composition to promote obscurity and discomfort.
• Realistic depiction of a scene infused with surreal imagery and form. 

Image #2 "Wounded Veteran"

“Wounded Veteran” - Otto Dix

IMAGE SOURCE 

This is “Wounded Veteran” created with water colour and pencil in 1922. As the title suggests, it shows a scarily haunting depiction of a severely wounded veteran with an painfully open  facial wound.

Dix’s use of colours draw the viewers eye straight to the large gaping wound, as if to say that it’s the focal point. It doesn’t make the veteran appear heroic, it simply depicts the wound in a disturbingly realistic manner which illustrates the severity of the condition and times.

 

How this Influences my Environment

How will this painting be a visual inspiration and influence for my project?

• Focus on the disturbing element of the image.
• Use of bold and vivid colour to illustrate the focal point, although the colours reflect the wound and communicate blood, harm and discomfort.
• Using human flesh and an open wounds to communicate horror and pain.
• Disfigurement and obscurity of the natural form. 

Image #3 "Portrait of a Prisoner"

“Portrait of a Prisoner” - Otto Dix

IMAGE SOURCE 

This is  “Portrait of a Prisoner” by Otto Dix. I am referencing this image more with regards to the texture and feel of it. The contrast between the cold brittle blue and darker red tones create an uncomfortable environment with connotations of heaven and hell.  There is barbed wire around the head of the character which communicates pain and suffering; a common theme in Dix’s work. 

 

How this Influences my Environment

How will this painting be a visual inspiration and influence for my project?

• Inspiration for texture creation for psychological horror assets.
• Careful consideration of juxtaposed colours to enhance the haunting essence and atmosphere.
• Placement of objects with others to communicate themes.
• Texture of painting appears “thick” which makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Texture of painting is scratched, distorted and blurred which emphasises the atmosphere. Its not “perfect”.

Otto Dix Study Summary

Otto Dix creates horrific imagery through expressionism, abstract tones and surreal elements to build hauntingly dark art.  I want to try and recreate the atmosphere he captures in his work within my environment. I think I can utilize multiple elements from his work such as his use of mark making, tone, colours, subject matter and focal points in order to communicate and inject horror through my environment. 

The themes Dix illustrates within his images are closely associate with those demonstrated in psychological horror games such as repression, death, darkness, violence, injury, bodily harm, grievance and decay. There is plenty here I can use to stimulate and influence my own psychological horror environment.