Johannes Wohlfart

​Soldier/Civilian (ca. 1945)

Photo: N. Lackner / UMJ

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Soldier/Civilian was painted by Johannes Wohlfart (1900–1975) in the years before 1945. The artist lived in Rottenburg am Neckar at the time and only returned to his hometown of Graz after the end of the war. He wanted to sell the portrait he had brought with him, which shows a friend of his, an unknown writer. To improve his chances, he painted over the brown uniform coat. From then on, the young storm trooper wore a blue sweater and was no longer identifiable as a Nazi. Today, this approach can be considered a highly significant example of how Austrians coped with the horrors of Nazi terror and war. The painting was partially restored by its final owner—half of the uniform was uncovered again. It thus illustrates the widespread contradictions in this country regarding the Nazi era.

Oil on fiberboard, 59.7 × 39.8 cm

Neue Galerie Graz / Universalmuseum Joanneum