Step into the unknown, an encounter with demons as well as angels

June 13, 2015 7:26 AM

The works of Edgar Ende were condemned as degenerate by the Nazi government.
The majority of his paintings were destroyed by a bomb raid on Munich in 1944. Fortunately some have survived. (Click through on the Oeuvre button)
His paintings greatly influenced the writings of his son Michael.
posted by adamvasco (7 comments total)

Wow, lthese paintings look like they could be from a lovechild of Dali and Blake.

His son Michael's book Momo is one of my favourite books ever. I've read it several times as both a child and adult, and recently finished reading it to my eight year old daughter, who also loved it. Thanks for the post.
posted by iotic at 8:53 AM on June 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

I can see how his son had to have written The Neverending Story. Mr. Atrahasis and I were just talking about the book's sophisticated conception of the Nothing. Given the destruction of his father's paintings, I can see the link between the Nothing, the politicized erasure of certain classes of art, and the annihilation of war. Awesome FPP - thank you!
posted by Atrahasis at 8:58 AM on June 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Love these, thanks!
posted by Beethoven's Sith at 10:25 AM on June 13, 2015

Fascinating paintings. Fascinating story. Thank you.
posted by evilmomlady at 11:00 AM on June 13, 2015

If you get a chance, I can heartily recommend Der Spiegel im Spiegel (mentioned in the Oeuvre link), which is illustrated with engravings by Edgar Ende. Beautiful, haunting stories.
posted by bouvin at 4:17 PM on June 13, 2015

the paintings remind me of the work of Remedios Varo
posted by ergomatic at 6:33 PM on June 13, 2015

Marvellous stuff. Lots of resonances with other surrealists (and Blake, indeed, but then...), but there's a restraint and space to these that's quite distinctive.
posted by Devonian at 10:27 AM on June 14, 2015