Hans Feibusch (1898 Frankfurt, Germany – 1998 London, England)
Power, 1933
Chalk and pastel on brown paper
63 x 48 cm
The Werthwhile Foundation
© The Werthwhile Foundation
Immigrated to England 1933
Feibusch uses this dramatic vertical format and pyramidal structure to depict an image of violence and oppression. Created in 1933, the year he left Germany after his pictures were publicly burned and he was forbidden to paint, it is a harrowing depiction of a victim at the mercy of two oppressors, who close in upon him from both sides. The bold yellow is the only colour in an otherwise subdued colour scheme with areas of brown and white chalk on brown paper. In another image, using a similar composition, entitled Star of David and created in the same year, a lone male figure is shown with hands upraised in an attitude of supplication or horror with a flaming Star of David on a backdrop behind him.
