Georg Baselitz, the influential German painter known for his inverted figures and raw, expressive style, has died at age 88. A pioneer of postwar German art, Baselitz gained international fame in the 1960s by turning his canvases upside down, forcing viewers to focus on form and paint rather than narrative. His work often grappled with the trauma of Nazi Germany and the divided nation's identity, making him a central figure in the Neo-Expressionist movement.
Baselitz's death marks the end of an era for postwar German art, as he was one of the last living giants who reshaped painting after World War II. His inverted technique challenged conventional perception and influenced generations of artists. Beyond his studio, Baselitz was a vocal critic of the art market and institutional orthodoxy, making his legacy as much about artistic freedom as about his iconic, upside-down canvases.