It was news to me, probably because history was never my favorite subject in school. But reading about the artistic side of the German dictator Adolf Hitler was quite interesting.
Art was one of Hitler’s major interest, he even tried to make a living as an artist before his rise to power. But Hitler never succeeded, no wonder this aspect of the Nazi ruler goes unnoticed.
Hitler began by painting simple landscapes then he started to imitate scenic postcards, and he use to sell them too, mostly to tourists.
His paintings might not be extraordinary, but when you see the change that followed in his personality from being an aspiring artist to lord of war, its absolutely fascinating. 
Hitler moved to Vienna when he was 18 with the hope and dream of becoming an artist. He use to stand for hours staring at the grand buildings in Vienna, ponder over how to make them better, see operas and read papers with anti-semitic ideas. 
Hitler appeared for the admission test for an art academy, but failed. Disappointed he went to the academy to get an explanation and was told his drawings were unsatisfactory and lacked appreciation of the human form. 
With the help of a friend he started selling his drawings to tourists, and earned a meagre living from them. He appeared again for the admission test and failed this time too. 
So feeling rejected and depressed, Hitler left Vienna to return home and in 1934 he became lord of the war.
I wonder what would have become of him if he got through the art academy? History would have been rewritten then! What do you think of his paintings?
Image Source:
Pictures from the Life of the Führer
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest updates straight in your inbox!
the artistic side of adolf hitler..
I thought they were all drab and dreary…
See the movie, Max, which imagines the possibility of Hitler exhibiting his art, until his anti-Semitism works against him.
Looks like puzzle paintings
No point trying to analyze him now the damage has been done!! I believe his first interaction of rejection was parallel with his disregard of human lives in general! His artwork held no place for them either even after it was voiced to him.