General secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unions GAWAIN LITTLE calls for support and participation in the national partnership organised to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1926 general strike
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A window into the life of Hans Hess
PAUL MACGEE highlights a new series of books that brings together a treasure trove of writings by a Jewish Marxist art historian who offers readers a refreshingly grounded theory of art
DISTINGUISHED: Portrait of Hans Hess c1962 (photographer unknown), Pic: Anita Halpin
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WHAT started as a modest compilation of known writings on art and Marxism by the art historian Hans Hess is turning into a four-volume collection of his work, including a series of illustrated lectures and recently uncovered unpublished writings along with material written for the amusement of children.
Hans Hess was born into a well-off family of cultured, enlightened and progressive-minded German Jews. His father Alfred, a staunch social democrat and admirer of the Soviet Union, owned Hess Schuh and by fortunate circumstance won the contract to provide boots for the Red Army in the mid-20s.
With good advice from curators and art dealers, Alfred was able to accumulate a representative collection of the art of the Weimar avant garde, most especially of Expressionist and Modernist inspiration.
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