The Argument 1940

Herman Volz created this print called ‘The Argument’ using lithography. It depicts two workers in what appears to be a shipyard locked in a dispute over a fallen object, which takes the shape of a swastika. The artist was part of the Hamburg Secession, a group formed in 1919 to promote expressionist art, but later suppressed by the Nazi regime in 1937. Volz was conscripted into military service but managed to avoid arrest. Looking at this image, one must consider the socio-political context of Germany in the early 20th century, where the rise of Nazism was a significant factor in everyday life. The artist seems to be making a clear statement about the rejection of the Nazi regime through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. To understand this work better, it is helpful to look at archives of the Hamburg Secession, which can help to highlight the artist's intention. Art like this challenges existing social norms and acts as a reminder that meaning is always contingent on the social and institutional context.