Street in Brussels (with Self-Portrait), 1965

About the Work

The artist stands almost meekly wedged in between a line of marching Nato soldiers and a group of obtrusive prostitutes. Austere objectivity characterizes the world to the left; luxury and sensual pleasure unfold at the right. Having travelled to Belgium in 1965, Tübke was here evidently trying to determine his position. The unusually hesitant drawing of his face reveals how difficult that endeavour was for him.