Christian Schad - Operation - 1929

 

Christian Schad's "Operation," painted in 1929, is a chillingly realistic portrayal of a medical operation. Characteristic of the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement, the painting emphasizes clinical precision and emotional detachment. The scene is depicted with a sharp focus on detail, from the sterile environment of the operating room to the tools and figures involved in the procedure. The figures, including the patient and the medical personnel, are rendered with a detached objectivity, almost as specimens under observation. The color palette is restrained, contributing to the overall sense of coldness and clinical distance. "Operation" is not concerned with glorifying medical progress or exploring human drama; instead, it presents a matter-of-fact depiction of a medical procedure, inviting the viewer to confront the realities of the human body and the clinical nature of modern medicine.

Source: Lenbachhaus