Georg Baselitz, the controversial German artist, has a new exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, titled "Naked Masters." The exhibition marks Baselitz's 85th birthday and is the largest show ever dedicated to a modern or contemporary artist by the museum. The exhibition features 73 paintings and two sculptures from the years 1972 to 2022, alongside oil paintings by old masters.

The exhibition is arranged chronologically, beginning with Baselitz's early finger paintings, which are displayed alongside works by old masters such as Hans Memling and Lucas Cranach the Elder. Baselitz's bold, larger-than-life nudes in bright, vibrant colors are a stark contrast to the refined, delicate depictions of nudity in the old master paintings. The show moves on to Baselitz's works from the 1980s, which border on abstraction and are displayed alongside works by Tizian and Paolo Fiammingo. The third hall presents works from the 1990s, featuring lighter, airier brushstrokes and depictions of couples in reference to Rudolfine Mannerism. Baselitz's later works, which explore the theme of aging bodies, are displayed in the fourth and fifth halls.

Baselitz's works have always been controversial, and he is known for his outspoken opinions on art and politics. In 2015, he withdrew his loaned works from German museums in protest of the newly installed Cultural Heritage Protection Law, which he felt restricted his control over his own works. He has also been criticized for his misogynistic comments about women artists. Despite the controversy, Baselitz is considered one of the most important contemporary artists, and his works regularly sell for millions of dollars.

The exhibition aims to be entertaining, rather than conveying a deeper message. Baselitz deliberately chose to focus on nude art to challenge the Christian and mythological narratives traditionally associated with it. The exhibition's curators have designed the show to be a dialogue between old masters and contemporary art, with Baselitz's larger-than-life nudes towering over the old master paintings. The exhibition is a celebration of Baselitz's artistic career and his status as one of the most important living contemporary artists.