Like many progressive artists of his time, Hans Uhlmann suffered under the reign of the national socialists. He was arrested because of his political stance in 1933 and spent almost two years in prison. In this period, Uhlmann filled multiple diaries and sketchbooks published for the first time in this volume. Not only do they offer invaluable insights into the formation of a unique artistic position and the daily routine behind the bars of a Nazi prison, they call for a reassessment of the status of drawing in Uhlmann’s artistic practice, who is often primarily seen as a sculptor.

HANS UHLMANN (1900–1975), best known for his works in metal, is one the most influential German artists of the post war era. From 1950 onwards, he taught as professor at the Berlin University of the Arts and participated in numerous major exhibitions such as the São Paulo Biennale, the documenta and the Venice Biennale.