Visual Artist – Odd Nerdrum ✔Certified
The Murder of Andreas Baader (1978) Skill Mastery 🟨+ Impact🟪: 77.5%
Odd Nerdrum’s The Murder of Andreas Baader is an oil painting depicting the speculative execution of Red Army Faction leader Andreas Baader in Stammheim Prison. Modeled after Caravaggio’s Crucifixion of St. Peter, the work shows Baader partially naked, held by two men while a fourth figure points a gun at his neck. The figures form a St. Andrew’s Cross. Presented at Høstutstillingen in Oslo in 1978, it sparked immediate controversy for depicting a terrorist as religious martyr.
Here’s how this rating breaks down using the Consistent Multi-Criteria Rubric method:
Technical Skill and Execution (25% of total score): 10/10 = 2.50 points
Masterful command of Old Master techniques. Nerdrum’s layering, glazing, and chiaroscuro demonstrate complete mastery of Baroque painting methods.
Composition and Design (25% of total score): 9/10 = 2.25 points
Exceptional compositional structure. The figures arranged in a St. Andrew’s Cross create powerful visual geometry following Caravaggio’s model.
Originality and Creativity (20% of total score): 9/10 = 1.80 points
Bold conceptual vision applying Baroque religious iconography to contemporary political terrorism. Transformed historical painting techniques into radical political commentary.
Color Use and Harmony (15% of total score): 8/10 = 1.20 points
Effective muted earth-toned palette. Warm flesh tones against dark backgrounds create strong contrast serving the narrative intensity.
Emotional Impact and Expression (15% of total score): 10/10 = 1.50 points
Maximum emotional and political impact. The painting sparked immediate public outrage in Norway and Germany, challenging official narratives about Baader’s death and state authority.
Subtotal: 92.5%
Political Message Penalty: -15%
Total: 77.5%
