Sigmunds Höhle

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Anselm Wagner’s engaging essay offers a satirical exploration of the artistic vision of German painter Georg Baselitz, particularly focusing on his latest series, »Sigmund's Cave«. The title hints at a compelling narrative involving Sigmund Freud, who, at 82, faced house arrest by the Gestapo and battled cancer. Alongside his daughter Anna, Freud translated a French book about a chow-chow dog that endured similar health struggles, ultimately achieving a happy ending that Freud himself did not. The book originated from Marie Bonaparte, Freud's patient and patron, who aided his family's emigration. The Freud family's relationship with dogs is complex; Freud had three chow-chows while Anna owned a German shepherd. Wagner notes that dogs symbolize an idyllic existence, free from cultural burdens, yet Freud's psychoanalysis is rooted in a materialist tradition akin to the Cynics, who rejected societal norms. Baselitz, also a dog owner, typically paints conventional subjects like landscapes and portraits, but he incorporates playful elements into his dog portraits, such as a "hole" and cloud patterns resembling anatomical features. This blend of mischief and traditional themes characterizes Baselitz's work. The exhibition was held at CFA Contemporary Fine Arts Berlin from 1/10 to 14/11/2015.