Anselm Kiefer is a German artist celebrated for his monumental paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works that grapple with history, memory, mythology, and the enduring scars of World War II. His practice is distinguished by the use of symbolic and often unconventional materials—such as lead, straw, ash, clay, and found objects—integrated into heavily textured surfaces that embody both physical and conceptual weight. Through these materials, Kiefer engages with cultural trauma, the cycles of destruction and renewal, and the persistence of memory.

Die Woge (The Wave) (1995) exemplifies Kiefer’s layered, tactile approach. Vast in scale and dense in its materiality, the work conveys the unstoppable, elemental power of nature while drawing parallels to the sweeping and devastating currents of history. Its monumental presence and somber palette suggest both the grandeur and the destructive capacity of forces—whether natural or human—that shape the world. By likening the wave to the casualties of war, Kiefer deepens the connection between natural phenomena and human tragedy, reinforcing his central preoccupation with the intertwined narratives of creation and loss.

Kiefer’s works are held in major public and private collections worldwide, including The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Guggenheim Museum. He remains one of the most significant and influential postwar European artists, his oeuvre serving as both a memorial and a provocation.