Anselm Kiefer in 5 Powerful Works

1. The Language of the Birds

Kiefer’s education shaped his art in profound ways. Born into the ruins of postwar Germany, he immersed himself in history—starting with the horrors of the Nazi regime. He also explored literature, reading figures like Goethe, Rimbaud, Joyce, Celan, and Bachmann. Spiritual texts drew him in as well, from ancient Egyptian lore to Kabbalistic writings. Books became sacred to him—vessels of memory, imagination, and transformation. In Die Sprache der Vögel (für Fulcanelli) (2013), he created a stack of leaden books with wings, paying tribute to the mysterious alchemist Fulcanelli. The sculpture suggests that knowledge, like birdsong, may carry hidden truths across time and space.

2. 20 Years of Solitude

When delving deeper into Anselm Kiefer’s art, we encounter a body of work that is both arresting and unapologetically raw. He often approaches taboo subjects with symbolic weight and personal intensity. 20 Years of Solitude (1993) stands among his most unsettling pieces—a towering column of white-painted ledgers and handmade books, scattered with soil and dried vegetation. Over two decades, Kiefer poured his solitude, both literal and emotional, into these volumes. The pages bear traces of an intensely private ritual, confronting themes of isolation, desire, and time. As with much of his work, the discomfort it evokes is part of its power.

3. Walhalla

Though Kiefer is best known for confronting Germany’s past, his work reaches far beyond national memory. In recent decades, he has drawn from other cultural sources, including Norse mythology. Walhalla (2016), one of his later paintings, merges myth with history, nature, and the remnants of National Socialism. The title refers to the mythical hall of fallen warriors, a place of both honor and ruin.

Kiefer transforms his materials through physical processes. He might burn, corrode, or expose the canvases to the elements, allowing sun, rain, and soil to leave their mark. These interventions give the work a weathered gravity, as if time itself had helped paint it.

4. Margarete

The painting Margarete (1981) presents Anselm Kiefer’s response to Paul Celan’s poem Todesfuge (Death Fugue). The poem contrasts two figures: Margarete, with her flowing blonde hair symbolizing Aryan ideals, and Shulamite, a Jewish woman marked by her dark, ashen hair. Kiefer embraces these metaphoric protagonists to explore the complex, painful relationship between art and history.

In Margarete, the name is boldly scrawled across the canvas like graffiti—part prayer, part memorial. Straw tendrils rise like smoke from death-camp chimneys, ending in candle-like flames. The image blurs hope and horror: the lush growth suggests resurrection, yet the charred soil and black paint evoke the grim realities of Auschwitz.

5. Seraphim

In Seraphim (1983–1984), Kiefer merges history, spirituality, and bold lyricism with striking intensity. This painting is part of his Angel series, which explores spiritual salvation through fire—an ancient symbol distorted by the Nazis in their pursuit of racial purity. In Seraphim, a ladder stretches from the earth to the sky, linking the mortal and divine. At its base, a serpent represents a fallen angel, reminding us of evil’s persistent presence. Kiefer uses fire to shape the painting’s surface, highlighting his belief in art’s redemptive power. Fire transforms destruction into renewal, just as Kiefer’s work transforms memory into meaning.

Kiefer’s work invites us into a complex dialogue between history, myth, and spirituality. His art transforms trauma into powerful symbols of renewal and reflection. When we discover Anselm Kiefer, we uncover a deeply personal yet universal vision that continues to resonate today. His ability to blend bold materials, haunting imagery, and profound themes makes his work both challenging and inspiring. Ultimately, Kiefer’s art reminds us of the enduring power of memory and creativity to shape our understanding of the past and present.