German Shepherd, 1928

About the Work

The intense stare and pricked ears indicate that something has aroused the interest of the dog, a German shepherd. Depicted with penetrating precision, the animal stands out sharply against the sketchily painted brick wall behind him. This painting of Ajax the dog was commissioned by the photographer Hugo Erfurth, who in turn created a portrait of Dix. The only subject of its kind, this animal picture occupies a special place in Dix's oeuvre and demonstrates at the same time his investigation of the question of a genuinely German painting style.