© DACS, London 2007
This horrific picture, with its savage imagery, harsh colours and restless composition, represents some of the most important elements in 20th century German art; it reflects the Expressionism of the Brucke and Blaue Reiter movements on the one hand and the disillusion of Berlin Dada on the other.
It also anticipates much German art in the post war and Nazi period, particularly the work of Max Beckmann. It is a valuable addition to the Tate collection which has always been weak in this field.