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Golden Boy Gerhard Gets A Raspberry From The CriticsHe suggested that the image — dubbed the “Golden Gerhard” — could be put on to a medallion, in the manner of Lenin badges, and be presented to Social Democratic party members. It is traditional for outgoing German chancellors to commission an artist for a final official portrait; the State buys it as a farewell gift to the retiring leader and hangs it to give a sense of history to the otherwise anonymous corridors of the Chancellery. Mr Schröder chose Jörg Immendorf as his portraitist, a provocative artist who usually mocks politicians. The painter fell into disrepute after being found in a hotel bedroom with lines of cocaine and no fewer than 12 prostitutes. The former chancellor decided to give him a chance to wipe out the memory of this unfortunate episode. What has emerged is a baffling icon-like image of Mr Schröder. In the foreground there is a melting black eagle — symbol of the German State — and a broken man. The figure is almost certainly a reference by Mr Immendorf to his own physical frailty: he is suffering from a degenerative disease and can no longer hold a paintbrush. In an ironic reference to fellow artists, he also slipped in a pack of monkeys. The painting was carried out by his students to his instructions. The backdrop is made to look like marble, but some critical interpretations yesterday likened it to spiderwebs or flashes of lightning emerging from Mr Schröder’s brain. “I like it,” the former chancellor said after a visit to Mr Immendorf’s atelier. “It’s quite different from anything that has been done before.” Mr Schröder’s fellow politicians were less generous. “The colour of the painting is only appropriate because he has gilded his future by working for Gazprom,” said Hans Joachim Otto, cultural expert of the Free Democrats, referring to the former chancellor’s lucrative retirement job. Problem heads Conrad Adenauer’s portrait, by Oskar Kokoschka, was not deemed sufficiently statesmanlike Willy Brandt’s image emerged as too abstract — only the contours of his head could be made out — and was replaced Helmut Schmidt was painted with cigarette in hand — later generations may want to replace the picture out of political correctness The painter of Helmut Kohl was advised to make his body less massive. The portrait now has a very large head on a strangely shrunken physique NI_AD(Sponsorprint); NI_AD(Sponsorsendfriend); NI_AD(Sponsorbacktotop);Tag CloudExternal InformationAdditional InformationThousands Mourn Slain Editor in Istanbul...Beijing’s blue skies ’suspect’... Immigration, Black Sheep and Swiss Rage... Venezuela and Guyana to Improve Alerts After Border Incursion... Where Am I?News Main Page - Business - Golden Boy Gerhard Gets A Raspberry From The Critics |
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