Adolf Dietrich

The youngest child of local farmers, Adolf Dietrich’s talent was recognized from early on. As his parents refused him artistic training, he was only able to paint during his free time and remained self-taught. His earliest works are sketches and water colours. Later he explored painting in oil. He started exhibiting his works in 1913 and gained international recognition in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Although Adolf Dietrich’s œuvre reveals obvious links to Naïve Art and the movement, New Objectivity, it remains mostly free from direct influences of other artists and is purely based on the painter’s meticulous observation. The range of motives was limited to his personal surroundings. He repeatedly depicted the same landscapes, precisely capturing the natural changes in light and atmospheric conditions. His still lifes are based on careful arrangements prepared on his studio’s table, as well as illustrations from books or stuffed animals. This allowed Dietrich to render the different surface textures and material qualities of each component with great care and tenderness. His nearly scientific approach combined with his unconditional, refreshing naïve style and awkward perspectives is reminiscent of 15th century primitive painting.