Heliogabal, 1974 (w/c & oil paint on paper)

In this vibrant watercolor of a sunset, Anselm Kiefer makes reference to the Roman Emperor Heliogabal, who was born in Syria. He paints the emperor’s name between the sun’s rays, transforming the seemingly benign sunset to include a larger historic and cultural reference. As emperor from 218-222, Heliogabal imposed, among other things, the worship of the sun god Baal as the state religion. The emperor’s reign was short lived: the imperial family ordered his death by drowning at the age of 18. The sunset not only symbolizes Heliogabal’s murder and the dousing of his revolution, but it also alludes to the fleeting authority of emperors and other leaders.