Ways of Worldly Wisdom. The Battle of Hermann, 1980

"Ways of Worldly Wisdom. The Battle of Hermann" is a 1980 artwork by German artist Anselm Kiefer. Kiefer's works frequently explore themes of German history and mythology. This artwork is a mixed media piece featuring a complex composition of layered images, figures, and text. The fragmented forms are suggestive of the artist’s exploration of memory and the aftermath of the Second World War. The work appears to depict a battle scene, potentially referencing the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest where the Germanic tribes defeated the Roman legions under Publius Quinctilius Varus. The work is typical of Kiefer's style, which utilizes highly textured surfaces, layered materials, and evocative imagery to create powerful and unsettling visual experiences.