The Smoker 

Richard Lindner created this painting, ‘The Smoker,’ sometime in the mid-20th century. Lindner’s aesthetic sensibility was shaped by the cultural and political climate of his time. His work often reflects the fragmentation and alienation experienced by many Europeans during the interwar period. The figure's fragmented and disjointed appearance speaks to the disruption of identity caused by war and displacement. His exaggerated features and theatrical attire suggest a sense of artifice and performance, perhaps commenting on the superficiality of modern society. Born in Germany, Lindner was part of the avant-garde scene in Paris before fleeing to the United States during World War II. He eventually became a teacher at the Pratt Institute in New York, thus contributing to the emergence of a new generation of American artists. The study of biographies, letters, and other primary source documents can help us understand the relationship between an artist's life and their work.