Hitler's Art

If art is a form of self-expression, a means for the artist to communicate a certain perspective to the viewer, then examining Adolf Hilter's art provides an immediate conundrum. Although it might not be fair to say, one could assume, by the fascist leader's reputation alone, that his art would be filled with dark subjects and twisted logic. But Hitler's art is anything but. The gentle, serene architectural scenes or colorful depictions of flowers that fill his artistic repertoire present an artistic Hilter that contradicts the fascist Hilter who led Germany into World War II and who was responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people. In a way, Hitler's drawings and water-colorings make him a little more human, that someone who seemed so capable of destroying lives without remorse also seemed to hold some gratitude for beauty. But at the same time, this reading makes me uncomfortable. It makes Hitler seem all the more senseless; the fact that he had this appreciation for beauty and yet still had the capacity to destroy it makes him even more inhumane. The Hitler as an artist does not match the Hitler as a fascist leader, but I am curious about how Hitler was able to transform himself from this artistic persona to a destructive one, or if these two seemingly opposing personas actually work hand-in-hand to define Hitler's character. In an article by the Hitler Historical Museum it is suggested that Hitler's creative genius, his "instinctual drive to create something out of nothing makes the artist uniquely qualified to lead and inspire a nation." This hypothesis is pretty generalized but maybe such a simple interpretation is the only kind we are willing to accept; the relationship between Hitler's art and his political career is something that delves deep into Hitler's mind and psyche, something that for many appears uncomfortable in that it requires trying to reason and understand the workings of a man reputed for one of the greatest evils in world history.