Spider (Die Spinne)

1912–1913

Paris: Daumier and Toulouse-Lautrec

In Paris Grosz becomes acquainted with the newest art and discovers the graphic work of Daumier and Toulouse-Lautrec.

1912–1916

The Berlin College of Arts and Crafts, Orlik's class

From 1912 Grosz studies at the Berlin College of Arts and Crafts under Emil Orlik, until 1916 or, by other accounts, 1917.

November 1914

Volunteering to avoid the front

In November 1914 Grosz volunteers for military service, hoping that by pre-empting conscription he will avoid being sent to the front.

1915–1917 · Wohnort

Steglitz

1916

A new name: Georg Groß becomes George Grosz

To 'de-Germanise' and internationalise his name, Grosz changes its spelling: Georg becomes the English 'George' and the German 'ß' in his surname is replaced by 'sz'. It is a protest against German nationalism and a romantic enthusiasm for America, drawn from the books of James Fenimore Cooper, Bret Harte and Karl May; his friend and collaborator Helmut Herzfeld likewise becomes John Heartfield at the same time.

1916

Drawings in the Berlin magazine “The New Youth”

In mid-1916 Grosz's drawings appear in the Berlin magazine The New Youth; he soon attracts attention, several well-known critics and publicists write about him, and editions of his drawings are published. The main subject he chooses is the life of Berlin, with its immorality and whirl of entertainments and vices.