GOETZ: Opus 222 The Soviet-Bavarian Government

cacheman

This is the one I had told you about that I was waiting for. Several of you have mentioned how much you like the cartoonish characterization Goetz uses in his satirical pieces. This is probably one of the more blatant of examples here. Goetz couldn't have made the obverse characters any more seedy than he did here. Note again, the out of proportion hands, a Goetz trait. This trait seems to work perfectly in characterizing the darker side that Goetz wants to show. These guys could all come straight out of a Dick Tracy comic book....I love it!!


K-222 THE SOVIET-BAVARIAN GOVERNMENT (Räte-Republik in Bayern). 1919, Cast AE, 58.8mm, 58g., AU.

On the occasion of the overthrow of the constitutional government under the leadership of Hoffmann and the installation of a revolutionary Central Council after the Russian bolshevik pattern. For nearly four weeks in April 1919 the power was in the hands of a few extremists, some of whom were Russian Communists. Goetz shows on the obverse typical representatives of the Bavarian Central Council of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Councils. He misspells BAIERN (in the exergue) to show his disgust with this type of government. On the reverse Gustav Landauer, a prominent member of the Soviet-Bavarian government, an ‘anarcho-socialist’ is seen dancing for joy that his ideals come true with the Russian leader Lenin. Inscription on the reverse “Away from the Reich!” On scroll, “Long live the ‘INTERNATIONAL’.”

cosmicdebris

Goetz at his story telling best.

oldshep

Some cartoonist sketch their ideas, but to go through the time and effort to three demensionalize (is that even a word?) his cartoon statements in the permanent media of metal shows how deeply he felt about things - I mean, who was his contemporary audience???
Shep

theboz11

Fantastic example!! Love it

boz

Very nice. But are those guys on the reverse kissing with phallic symbols to the right and left. Maybe I'm looking too deep.

DorkGirl

Who was his audience and how were these metals commissioned? Was he wealthy and did them on his own, did he have backers? I'm very interested in the answers. I understand the portraits were probably commissioned, but the satirical stuff has really got me wondering about who paid for it? That was a very depressed era, I guess I'm wondering how a guy would make a living doing this back then. Do you have any insights to share?

By the way, Dick Tracy nails it!!!

Askari

A mix of both, Becky. Commissions were to be desired, but in between he would make other medals to sell, some satirical and some not. During the latter parts of the two wars and during the Depression, it could be hard to find metal -- and such as was available differed widely in its purity -- and his wealthier commission customers would often have to supply the metal too.