Anita Berber was born on the 10th June 1899 in Germany. At the young age of 16 Berber left her town of Dresden and moved to Berlin where she became a cabaret dancer. She was a scandalous character who was addicted to drugs and supposedly drank a whole bottle of cognac per day which more than likely would have aided in her untimely death though the cause of death was listed as tuberculosis. Anita died in 1928 at just 29 years old. She danced nude in nightclubs and appeared in silent films. She was said to be a bisexual and was married a total of 3 times in her life. Artist Otto Dix and his wife were to discover her while watching a performance which lead to this incredibly famous painting (see right) bringing Anita Berber into the limelight across the world.
http://www.nndb.com/people/115/000161629/ (21.10.14)
"When Anita got out of the car on Kurfürstendamm wearing her sable coat and a monocle, and with her painted face framed by her bright red hair, passers-by stopped and stared. Prostitutes flocked to see her, forming an aisle through which Anita swept into her chosen venue" - unknown witness.
As a dancer, she took her role very seriously. On one evening in particular while she was performing nude a member of the audience made a loud comment about her which completely outraged her and lead to her upturning tables and spilling drinks before she left the scene.
"I know exactly what is wrong with me", she told a friendly journalist,
whilst still naked. "I’m depraved. I snort cocaine. My nostrils are on
fire.". She continued to apply her makeup until her face resembled a
pale and ghostly mask. http://heldvodka.de/-Anita-Berber,57- (21.10.14)It's a known fact that she would occasionally sell her body for money and also appeared in pornographic reels which was outrageous to some but a form of expression for Anita herself.
http://www.wornthrough.com/2011/01/11/anarchists-of-style-anita-berber-part-2/ (21.10.14)
Her trademark heavy charcoaled eyes and red lips would always be present on her face in public, lips so dark that in the black and white images they would look black and she would mostly be seen with her eye popping, flaming red hair which features in Dix's painting. As an artist Otto Dix was not usually a fan of using such vibrant colours but did so on this occasion for Anita Berber.
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