Artwork
Ja, was ist denn das?
Ja, was ist denn das? is a drawing by Karl Arnold. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Ja, was ist denn das? is a 1937 drawing by Karl Arnold, featuring two elderly women in an art gallery observing a muscular nude male sculpture, with a typewritten caption. The work critiques the Nazi regime’s aesthetic preferences through humorous exaggeration.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing satirically targets the Nazi regime’s promotion of grandiose, classical-style sculptures by depicting the women’s nervous reaction to the sculpture, implying a disconnect between the regime’s ideals and everyday perception.
Technique & Style
Executed in pen, ink, and wash, the drawing showcases bold, confident lines and selective shading to convey light and shadow, characteristic of Arnold’s expressive approach to social commentary.
History & Provenance
Published in the satirical magazine Simplicissimus in 1937, the piece reflects the magazine’s toned-down yet still critical political stance under Nazi pressure.
Context
Created during a period of heightened Nazi censorship, the work navigates the challenges of satire under oppression, using subtle humor to critique the regime’s cultural agenda.
Artist & collection
Artist
These drawings from the 1920s–30s capture everyday scenes with sharp humor and a dash of social edge.
Final draft of drawing `Ja, was ist denn das?'
Auslandspropaganda der Franzosen am Rhein
Versailles "Mich lassen sie jetzt nicht mehr in die Schule, ich bin auch unterernährt."
Pan Europa in St. Pauli
Der Volkstribun
Study for `Ja, was ist denn das?'
Entgegenkommen
Preliminary drawing for a satirical cartoon `Ja was ist denn das?'
