Farblitho 1966 - 21 (NOR) 1966

Ernst Wilhelm Nay made this color lithograph in 1966 during a period of heightened artistic experimentation in post-war Germany. Nay's abstract style developed during a time when institutions such as the art academies were debating the role of art in a rapidly changing society. Was art to be a tool for social commentary, or a realm of pure aesthetics, separate from the everyday? Nay's work, with its bold colors and non-representational forms, aligns with the latter. The flat planes of color and geometric shapes create a visual experience that emphasizes the formal elements of art. To fully understand Nay's contribution, we might look to the debates within the art world of his time, examining exhibition catalogs, artists' manifestos, and critical reviews. By studying the social conditions that shape artistic production, we can better appreciate how Nay's work challenged, or perhaps reinforced, the prevailing norms of his era.