Komposition (3. März 60) 1960

Julius Bissier made this artwork, Komposition, on the 3rd of March, 1960. Its delicate forms embody the artist’s interest in the possibilities of abstract art. Produced in Germany, this work resonates with the cultural drive toward abstraction in the wake of the Second World War. Having been dismissed from his teaching post by the Nazis in the 1930s, Bissier's work of this later period represents a move away from the figurative styles that were favored by the German authorities during the War. Instead, Bissier embraces a non-representational style which arguably embodies a sense of freedom from the constraints of the past. This shift towards abstraction can be seen more widely across art of the period as artists sought to reimagine the possibilities of art in post-war Europe. To understand this work better, we might want to consider the development of art institutions in Germany during the mid-20th century and the changing forms of patronage which shaped Bissier’s career.