Chess 1925

Willi Baumeister made this painting, titled 'Chess', using oil on panel. In the aftermath of the Second World War, in which Germany was devastated and politically discredited, many artists turned to abstraction as a way of avoiding the compromised language of national identity. In this context, Baumeister's painting embodies a sense of formal order and control that is achieved through the abstraction of a familiar game. With its carefully balanced forms, its muted palette, and its geometric lines, the painting exemplifies what art historians call 'formalism,' an approach to art that emphasizes its aesthetic qualities over its representational content. Yet, beneath the surface of the painting's aesthetic refinement, we might also discern a deeper social commentary. The game of chess, with its emphasis on strategy, calculation, and competition, might be seen as a metaphor for the social and political struggles of the postwar era. By abstracting the game, Baumeister invites us to reflect on the ways in which our lives are shaped by forces beyond our control.