No One Ever Claimed It Was Good Art
He was rejected from art school. He declared some of this century’s most important artists “degenerate.” Oh, and….he was the architect of one of the most heinous campaigns of ethnic genocide in world history. So of course a collection of Adolph Hitler’s watercolors should sell for nearly a quarter-million dollars, right?
Last week in the quiet town of Lostwithiel, England, Jefferys Auctioneers sold 21 watercolors and two sketches—images of cottages and quiet country scenes—attributed to the Nazi fiend. And as one might expect, the event drew protesters, some dressed in brown Nazi uniforms, trying to bring attention to the offensive nature of the sale. The works, which sold for prices ranging from $6,100 to $19,975, raked in a total of $223,000. Interestingly, although the paintings are each signed or initialed with the letters A.H., the experts who originally authenticated the works back in 1985 have since passed away; however, the subjects depicted in the watercolors are locations known to be near where Hitler stayed in Belgium during World War I.
Are they really worth nearly a quarter of a million bucks? Chris Walton, a spokesperson for Jefferys, explained that the works’ value comes from their historical significance, and not necessarily their artistic value. And as Greg Martin, formerly of Butterfields auction house said in 2000 when they sold Hitler’s address book for $17,250: “What right does anyone have to censor history?” -D.L.
