Rudolf Großmann

In his printmaking and illustrations, Rudolf Großmann sought to capture Berlin as a metropolitan hub of artistic and intellectual life. One aspect of that life certainly should not be omitted: boxing. This physically demanding, sweat-inducing competitive sport – which was not officially permitted as an amateur sport in Germany until around 1908 – had been extremely popular since the 1920s. It was seen as an expression of modern life. The enthusiasm for this sport quickly spread to the art world, in particular to the gallery owner Alfred Flechtheim, who was fascinated by the dynamics, speed and power of boxing and who urged Rudolf Großmann to approach the sport as an illustrator. A sheet on this subject that preoccupied Großmann so intensely also found its way into his portfolio Cocaine. An Orgy of Modern Life.