Georg Baselitz, the German painter and sculptor known for his provocative, expressionistic works and his iconic upside-down paintings, has died at the age of 88. The article traces his life from his childhood in war-torn Germany, through his early career as a rebellious artist in divided Berlin, to his rise as an international art star. It highlights his 1961 manifesto poster "Pandemonium I," his rejection of American abstraction, and his controversial 1963 exhibition that was raided by police for its explicit content.
Baselitz's death marks the end of an era for postwar German art. He was a pivotal figure who reclaimed Expressionism as a form of rebellion against both Nazi ideology and American cultural dominance, influencing generations of artists. His work, often dealing with themes of trauma, the human body, and German identity, challenged artistic conventions and censorship, making him a lodestar of German art for over half a century.