Hans Bellmer

German, 1902-1975. As a sign to show rebellion against his father’s authority and the rising Nazi government’s obsession for physical perfection, surrealist artist Hans Bellmer started producing life-size dolls and erotic photographs. His dolls resembled disassembled mannequins, a metaphor he used to demonstrate sexuality with a singularly obsessive focus. Bellmer was a politically minded painter who in addition to sculptures, produced photographs, prints, and drawings, all his medium always dealt with the same theme of sexuality and fetishism. His book ‘Die Puppe’ features photographs of his dolls in two editions. Bellmer referred to his excessive obsession with dolls as ‘Experimental Poetry.’