Klaus Sator
John Olday. Auf den Spuren eines schwulen Künstlers und Anarchisten

John Olday. Tracing a gay artist and anarchist

English abstract

Klaus Sator’s article offers a first tentative survey of John Olday’s (1905-1977) life and work. Olday was a German-British artist and leading figure in German and International Anarchism. Earlier studies have analyzed his role in the anarchist movement to some extent, whereas his opposition to the Nazi regime and his role in the homosexual movement are almost forgotten. Additionally, an adequate appraisal of his work as a gay artist is still missing. After highlighting certain biographical milestones, the article focuses on Olday’s encounter with anarchism, his resistance to the Nazi regime and his importance as an artist. A final look on Olday’s private life shows an unusual open homosexual lifestyle. This openness can in part be explained because the anarchist movement values personal freedom and self-realisation to a large extent. The article uses Olday’s estate, now owned by his long-time partner and adopted son Hermann Oldag.




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