[Merlion]

This seems to be a more balanced article about Arno Breker and this retrospective show at Schwerin on his sculptures.

Retrospective on "Hitler's Favorite Sculptor" Stirs Debate

A retrospective on Arno Breker will open in Schwerin on July 22. But the show is already stirring controversy because of claims it's an attempt to rehabilitate the artist described as Hitler's favorite sculptor.

The doubts arose, much as they were expected to. Is it permissible? What will people think? These are the kind of questions asked whenever Germany grapples with art from the Nazi era -- in this case sculptures by Arno Breker (1900-1991), who once took commissions from Adolf Hitler, and whose muscle-bound classical nudes contributed to the Nazi aesthetic.

The Schleswig-Holstein-Haus in Schwerin, eastern Germany plans to open a retrospective on Breker's career on July 22. It will be the first exhibition of Breker's work in the post-war era. On display will be 70 sculptures from the private collection owned by Breker's widow.

Even in the art world, Breker is a divisive figure, with some counting him among the most important sculptors of the 20th century, and others dismissing him as a Nazi sympathizer whose work has no artistic value. ....

However, the curator of the Schleswig-Hostein-Haus, Rudolf Conrades, defended the show, saying the whole point of the exhibition is to make Breker the subject of a criticial discussion. .....

Conrades, however, espouses the view shared by many in Germany, that creating taboos around anything to do with the Nazi era is not helpful in a nation still struggling to come to terms with its past.

"Breker is part of German art history," he said. "The big museums have so far shied away from handling this chapter in our history, and I really believe it's time to do this." .....