Pragerstrasse (Otto Dix, 1920)

The Visual Narrative of Pragerstrasse

Executed in July 1920, Pragerstrasse is an oil and collage on canvas that captures a scene on Prager Straße in Dresden, Germany, shortly after the First World War. The composition presents a fragmented view of urban life, featuring several distinct figures. In the foreground, a character from the middle or upper class is depicted without legs, moving with the assistance of a skateboard and canes; this figure wears a bowler hat and a jacket adorned with a medal. Beneath the skateboard, a leaflet is visible with the text “Juden raus!”. In the background, a poorly dressed beggar with a beard and only one functional arm is present, while a little girl is seen drawing with chalk on the edge of a prosthetist's window. To the right, the back of a woman is visible, showing only one high heel.

Technical Composition and Subject Matter

The artwork is a detailed depiction of the social landscape of Dresden. The subject matter includes:

The piece utilizes a combination of oil and collage techniques to render the figures and their surroundings within the urban setting of Prager Straße.